The wait is finally over… Albert Street is paved

Months of anticipation came to an end today when the paving of Albert Street finally commenced after many delays. Minister of Works Anthony “Boots” Martinez was among the many spectators downtown to see the first spurt of tar, hit the ground. Jose Sanchez reports.

Jose Sanchez, Reporting
On Thursday, officials and city residents were disappointed when the hot-mix did not reach Albert Street on its latest schedule. But at one-thirty this afternoon, the first gush of tar was tested on the sides of Brodies, indicating that this would finally be the proud day for Minister of Works, Anthony “Boots” Martinez.

Anthony “Boots” Martinez, Minister of Works
“Well for me I’m personally elated but also too I think this is a good way forward for the country of Belize, for the citizens of the city and it’s a good move for tourism. I want to thank our government for all the support that they have given to this project. And I think that you will see the difference. It is worth the while; it is worth the long wait. We have all the levels in place and now we’re getting ready to do the final infrastructure product in terms of road work. Apart from the paving with the hot mix, there will be fancy lamppost on the sidewalks, benches, trees and so forth.”

Larry Flowers, Contractor, Rodla Construction
“We have placed the top coat which is going to be used as the binder for holding the hot mix asphalt to the pavement. That is being placed right now with the bitumen distributor. Thereafter, we will have the asphalt paver place the asphalt on top of the top coat.”

Jose Sanchez
“And this section of the street will be ready for vehicular traffic by when?”

Larry Flowers
“We expect to finish from Belize Bank to about Barrows law firm by five o’clock. I think thereafter, about two hours after, we should be able to open it up to traffic.”

Progress brings problems. To pave Albert Street, the Belize City Council prepared Battlefield Park for vendors that would have to leave Albert Street. The trees were cut and stalls were built. But when the first spurts of tar hit the ground, immigrant vendors had to be told to move and instead of the park, they blocked the entrance of Church Street with fruits. Only one vendor had moved her stall outside the park.

Jose Sanchez
“Cordelia what made you decide to move across the street?”

Cordelia Taylor, Vendor
“Well sweet heart I have a family of five and nobody is gonna do it if you don’t.”

Jose Sanchez
“You’re not exactly in the park, are you planning to use any of the stalls that they are constructing?”

Cordelia Taylor
“If they make them bigger, cause it’s too small.”

Today’s paving could not come any sooner for the merchants of Albert Street. Business had been bad for Anil Asnani, so he is glad his frustration is almost over.

Anil Asnani, Merchant
“Well, I hope that it’s going to come to an end soon; maybe today or tomorrow because all of us have been suffering. Not only the business, but also our merchandise has getting been dusty and we have finding it very difficult to encounter all this. So far as the business is concerned, it is suffering and we have been hiring people. This kind of business, you will have to come and cleaned the merchandise three times a day and gives a weird kind of look to our merchandise.”

While merchants are happy that the dust issue is solved, another progress related problem has developed. The utility companies have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to place their infrastructure underground. Tux Vasquez, Telemedia’s Service Delivery Manager, says that the telephone company will eventually need access to the manholes that are going to be paved.

Arturo “Tux” Vasquez, Gen. Mgr. Service Delivery, Telemedia
“We have about a hundred and eighty-four manholes between Albert and Regent Street. At the time the arrangement was that we should have those manholes at least two inches above the ground to facilitate the servicing. But of course, there was a delay—we finished in July and now we’re in December and due to the delay the whole road has changed dynamics, the eroding of it, the potholes, the grading and all of that. So what we find now is that as they’re covering today the ministry has decided to cover all the manholes. That’s not a problem really, but the problem that I’m hoping that we won’t have is to get a public slack in the sense that later on when you see B.T.L. coming back, breaking up the streets breaking up the street to open up these manholes again, it’s not really because it is not our plan. We were really on schedule with our plan. But I was speaking to the minister just now and he has agreed that we will work together whereby we will have the people who are actually doing the roads, that they will have the access to the manholes for us and then we will in turn raise them or lower them, depending on what is needed.”

Minister of Works Anthony “Boots” Martinez
“We are the experts. We designed the project, we know how to get in, how to get out. We have arranged that with Mr. Vasquez, Mr. Tux Vasquez of B.T.L., we also have the issue with B.W.S. We make provisions that they can get in and out without damaging the street.”

Larry Flowers, Contractor, Rodla Construction
“Because we had the setback yesterday, we’ll proceed into tomorrow, so we’ll continue on Albert Street tomorrow, go around St. John’s Church and continue onto Regent street Saturday and Sunday.”

Jose Sanchez
“So Monday… you’re supposed to be done by Monday.”

Larry Flowers
“Yes, we expect that by Sunday evening we should complete the entire loop for Albert and Regent Streets.”

Jose Sanchez
“Some people will wonder why you’re not working at night.”

Larry Flowers
“Because we have to place the hot mix with the asphalt paver, so its easier for us to do it during the day so we can see if we have any deficiencies. So it’s better for us to do it at during the day.”

Jose Sanchez
“How many years is this supposed to last?”

Larry Flowers
“We expect that with this type of pavement, we should get at least five to eight years of pavement life.”

With almost a decade of smooth surface to enjoy, coupled with new lights and benches in January, perhaps the business community will soon paint their buildings to match the freshly tarred street. Reporting for News Five, Jose Sanchez.

While the paving is being carried out by the Ministry of Works, the Belize City Council will be responsible for the upkeep of Regent and Albert Streets.