Road to Twin Towns get a facelift

The signing of a contract to begin work on a road construction project to restore a stretch of the Western Highway adjoining the twin towns of Santa Elena and San Ignacio was held Thursday morning in Belmopan.  Present were Minister of Works Rene Montero and John Woods of Cisco Construction.  The project, which will cost an estimated five point five million dollars, will be carried out in four phases and will include the rehabilitation of the Loma Luz Boulevard where a bridge will also be constructed.  According to Montero, a section of Joseph Andrews Drive will also be renovated to assuage the flow of traffic in the area.

Rene Montero, Minister of Works

Rene Montero

“The Government of Belize secured a loan from the Caribbean Development Bank (C.D.B.) for the fourth road project Santa Elena/San Ignacio Bypass to be implemented in the Cayo District.  This project is divided into four phases: the upgrading of the Loma Luz Boulevard; a new bridge crossing of the Macal River; the construction of a high embankment bypass and the rehabilitation of the Joseph Andrews Drive to the point it intersects with the Western Highway.  The works to be done under this project involves the upgrading of the Loma Luz Boulevard for approximately one mile to its intersection with the Trapisi Road which is the point along the Macal River where a high level bridge crossing will be constructed.  Also included in the scope of works is the construction of reinforced concrete sidewalk drains, installation of a high capacity drainage structure and a large diameter roundabout at the Loma Luz Boulevard/Western Highway junction.  Traffic-calming measures, pedestrian crossing ramps, line marking and directional signs will ultimately be incorporated to finish the first phase contract.  Now what we are witnessing here today is the signing of the Government of Belize through the Ministry of Works and Transport.  The construction contract to carry out phase one of this project which is the upgrading of the Loma Luz Boulevard.  I am pleased to announce that the successful bidder is Cisco Construction Company Ltd.  It is anticipated that the works will commence immediately.  Engineering and supervision of the project is being provided by HALCO Group Ltd. with local liaisons, the project unit and [an] arm of the Ministry of Works.  And also, the estimated cost of this project is five point five million dollars.”