New Bz. river bridge nears completion in Cayo
The last time someone tried to build a major span over the Belize River was June of 1993 at a place called Iguana Creek. A flood washed the nearly complete structure into oblivion and its contractor firmly into the nation’s folklore. Today, with the lessons of history still fresh, another bridge is arching over the unpredictable waters of the Cayo District. Patrick Jones reports on why this time it’s supposed to be different.
Patrick Jones, Reporting
Eight months into the execution stage construction of the Young Bank Bridge is seventy percent complete. The multi-million dollar structure is being assembled bit by bit on land, and then hoisted into position by a large crane. Project Manager Mark Chapman says this method is the fastest, most convenient way to get the job done.
Mark Chapman, Project Manager, Johnston International
?This differs in that rather than lifting the whole structure into place each individual member is made up on the ground and then lifted into place and fixed to the bridge, to the end of the bridge. We call it static counter lever erection meaning that the end of the bridge is static throughout the whole of the erection procedure. With a rather large counter weight on the end. And then we counter lever out across the river.?
Once completed, at three hundred and seventy-four feet, the Young Bank bridge will be the country?s third longest, behind the Hawksworth and Haulover. It will also open up a large area of potentially productive farm and pasture land to improved access.
Patrick Jones
?Right now if you want to get from Valley of Peace to the rest of Cayo, you have to do what I am doing, take a ferry. But take a good look because in a few short months this ferry crossing will fade into history as this new bridge will proudly span the Belize River at Young Bank.?
Cadet Henderson, Chief Engineer, M.O.W.
?This bridge primarily provides access to agricultural lands in the Valley of Peace area and other farming communities nearby, but in the long term will provide an access to the north of the country to Orange Walk. And this is the impetus for us to having been convinced to put so much effort, six point nine million dollars into this structure.?
Chief Engineer Cadet Henderson says the galvanized steel structure will be low maintenance and designed for the long haul.
Cadet Henderson
?This bridge is estimated to be some thirteen feet above the highest recorded flood level. And we are absolutely certain that probably for decades to come it will continue to be above the highest flood risk.?
But for now, the structure is precariously perched several feet above its support piers. Chapman says it has been designed to withstand considerable wind load and the foundations have similarly been reinforced so that the bridge, once lowered into position, will stand up to the elements.
Mark Chapman, Project Manager
?Once we?ve reached the north abutment which will be in about the next week or so, we will very carefully remove the counter weight. As you can see the bridge is secured temporarily with some straps there down to the pier. We will then use some large capacity jacks, ninety ton jacks to very gradually lower the bridge down into its final position.?
After which the road works on both approaches will be carried out. Henderson Says the bridge will be ready for use around the end of April. And for people who use this crossing on a daily basis the inauguration can?t come a minute too soon. Patrick Jones, for News 5.
Contractor for the project is Johnston International with steel assembly being done by Lopez Equipment. The Halcrow Group provided design and consultancy services while the bridge was manufactured by Balfour-Beatty of the United Kingdom.
