New bridge dedicated at Beaver Dam
It’s been open less than a month, but most motorists travelling the Western Highway have already forgotten the dangerous old days of the big curve at St. Matthew’s Village. Today, the new bridge and its laser straight approaches were officially dedicated. And with a crowd of government heavyweights returning from Belmopan, the timing could not have been better.
Janelle Chanona, Reporting
For the past two weeks, the newly constructed bridge at Beaver Dam on the Western Highway has been open to motorists. Built by the Government of Belize at a cost of two point four million dollars, it spans some two hundred feet and is designed to last a century.
Cadet Henderson, Chief Engineer, Ministry of Works
“This bridge is fully designed to accommodate all eventualities. Specifically, it was designed to be above the highest recorded flood level, to be able to resist the forces of a hurricane, as well as seismic activity in terms of earthquake.”
According to Cadet Henderson, Chief Engineer in the Ministry of Works, the new bridge was built using Belizean brainpower and served as a teaching tool for engineers in the Belize Defence Force.
Cadet Henderson
“It was a very unorthodox execution from our point of view, in the sense that my engineers were very much involved, there were no foreign consultants involved with the project. I brought in three engineers from the B.D.F. as well, both for the training benefit on their part, as well as to give them an opportunity to apply their training to a very important project.”
The bridge became necessary after severe floods in June 2002 caused serious damage to the existing structure. A factor which threatened to cut off the northern part of the country from points west and the south, a situation with terrible implications, especially if evacuation became mandatory due to a natural disaster.
But today, the only safety concern at the site is the steep approaches on either side of the bridge…an issue Henderson says will be addressed in the near future.
Cadet Henderson
“That embankment serves as lateral drainage, because the area is near to a major creek. However, crash barriers will be installed. The total project will be completed near the end of November, which includes the demolition of the old bridge, the installation of crash barriers, as well as what we call river training, some improvement to the cross section of the river.”
Janelle Chanona
“So in the interim, you think that is a safety concern?”
Cadet Henderson
“It doesn’t pose a serious peril. Maybe if a drunk motorist approach the bridge and loses control it could be a little problem, but we’ll install the barriers very shortly.”
Janelle Chanona for News 5.
It should be noted that even without the damage caused by the flood, a new bridge was scheduled to be installed in 2004.
