Paving of Albert/Regent delayed… again

There was enough activity in downtown Belize City this morning to raise the hopes of city residents that they would not only breathe easier, but ride smoother come Christmas Day. After months of works, the much anticipated hot mix paving of the main arteries of the city was supposed to begin… we say supposed to because by mid-afternoon it was apparent that there was yet another setback. Jose Sanchez reports.

Jose Sanchez, Reporting
Forecasting when Albert and Regent Streets would finally be paved has been tricky because of the many delays. The last date we were told was December fifteenth. It’s three days later, and Minister of Works, Anthony Boots Martinez, now says there will be no more setbacks. December eighteenth, is the day for the hot-mix.

Jose Sanchez
“After many delays, is today finally the day that we’re going to see some of that hot-mix get on Albert and Regent Streets?”

Anthony “Boots” Martinez, Minister of Works
“Today is the day for the hot mix on Albert Street and this process will come infrastructure wise where paving is concerned to an end today. After months of delay but also after months of proper planning. If you notice we have the sidewalk and now we’re getting ready after that to put in the fancy metal light pole and benches and so forth but at least the infrastructure of the paving will be finished on Albert Street today.”

Jose Sanchez
“Can you give me a definite day when people will be able to drive on Albert Street and Regent?”

Anthony “Boots” Martinez
“By tomorrow on Albert Street because in terms where hot mix is concerned because after this process is finished you can drive on the streets so Albert Street will be open to the general public as of tomorrow.”

C.E.O. for the Ministry of Works, Cadet Henderson, was out early on Albert Street to supervise the critical job which was to begin at eleven in the morning.

Cadet Henderson, C.E.O., Ministry of Works
“We are now at the stage where the base course is complete on most of this loop, Albert/Regent Street. And the hot mix asphalt, the application begins today, it will probably take four days, maybe five. For now the plan is to work Thursday, Friday, Sunday, and Monday. Essentially, the material is being prepared up in Blue Creek some eighty miles away and its being batched and processed in that area and will be trucked down in at least seven trucks going continuously. Then this big paver behind us will then apply the material and provide initial compaction then other vibrating rollers will come behind and really consolidate it to our specifications.”

And according to Boots Martinez, other areas in the City will also get a facelift including the Central American Boulevard.

Jose Sanchez
“Residents around the city may get jealous and want their street, North Front Street, Queen Street, Barrack Road paved. Where are you going to pave next?”

Anthony “Boots” Martinez
“Well, if you noticed government under the I.D.B., has secured some loans through the Ministry of Tourism as to upgrade the tourism look which includes Queen Street, North Front Street, going towards the Marine Parade, the Tourism Village and so. So I think you will se more of this kind of activity in a more timely manner, coming up early next year.”

A timely manner were word which minister Martinez was proud to say but by three p.m., the equipment were still scattered lying oddly on all sections of downtown Belize City. The contractor from Radla Construction had some bad news.

Larry Flowers, Contractor, Rodla Construction
“We have a mechanical failure at the hot mix plant which we are working on and as soon as we get it resolved we’ll be doing the hot mix; not today, but we are trying for tomorrow.”

Jose Sanchez
“What type of mechanical failure?”

Larry Flowers
“Mechanical failure on the plant. It’s something that we need to repair and we’re repairing it and I think we should get it done and we should be able to do it tomorrow.”

Jose Sanchez
“Are you going to work on Saturday or is the entire project just moved down into next week?”

Larry Flowers
“First of all, what we want to do is to make sure that we have the first section laid properly and we will continue as long as we’re confident that the product is being placed the way it should be placed and we achieve th kind of quality that we expect to have.”

Jose Sanchez
“Will it be finished by Monday?”

Larry Flowers
It depends on how we process tomorrow. If we go very well we should be able to finish by Monday. I’m not saying it is going to be finished but the possibility is there.”

Jose Sanchez
“Are you very disappointed about this?”

Anthony “Boots” Martinez
“Yes, politically I’m terribly disappointed, sure I’m disappointed but like anything else it is out of our hands and mechanical problems form time to time do happen. There is nothing I can do. I think that even though I’m disappointed that I have to take the decision of aborting this today until the morning.”

After four p.m. downtown Belize City was still blocked from traffic and the only vehicle enjoying the semi- smooth surface of Albert Street was a remote controlled car. Reporting for News Five, Jose Sanchez.