New Bridge planned for northern border

Plans to construct a new four-lane bridge at the Northern border with Mexico are to be finalized in early August, with construction to start next year. According to press reports from Chetumal, the new bridge will be built less than a half-mile up river from the existing span over the Rio Hondo at Santa Elena. On August sixth, Belizean and Mexican officials will meet in Belmopan to fine tune the details. News 5 understands that Mexico will be assuming the cost of the structure, while Belize will be responsible for the construction of the road on this side of the bridge leading to the border facilities. The new bridge is expected to relieve congestion at the frontier that has become much worse since the inauguration of the Corozal Free Zone. The structure now in use was built in the 1960’s.