Early rains may slow downtown street project

The dry season came to an apparent end this week and a tropical depression which promises to dump some four inches of water overnight on the old capital will have no mercy on the repair work being done on Albert and Regent Streets. Deputy Mayor Anthony Michael says while a little rain is okay, too much will surely put a damper on things.

Anthony Michael, Belize City Deputy Mayor
“The water certainly helps with the compaction a little bit more. What we have had and what we will be mentioning to the utility companies today is to try and remove as much of their mess as we’re seeing out there. They’re digging, they’re filling and a lot of the debris is falling within the sidewalks and within the drains. So we have asked them to be cognizant of the fact that it will increase flooding downtown. When they went in, especially with BWS, they realised “oh, oh there’s more work under here”. Lots more pipes than they though is run.”

Ann-Marie Williams
“So they underestimated the time?”

Anthony Michael
“Yes, they underestimated their scope of work. They gave us a time but it has stretched beyond because when they went in they thought they would have changed certain line and when they there were more lines that were … it could have lasted a little bit longer but they’re cognizant of the quality of the road we’re doing, they decided to change and change as much things as possible.”

Michael says the utility companies have asked the City Council for one more week to finish their underground work.