Old landmark, Swing Bridge, turns for mooring boats

One of the local charms of Belize City that has not been seen in operation since the last hurricane season is the Belize City Swing Bridge. The old bridge has seen its better days gone by. The bridge which has always been swung by manpower received help from a back hoe today. According to Mayor Darrell Bradley the exercise was necessary to allow mariners to secure their boats in safe harbor.

Darrell Bradley, Belize City Mayor

“To allow mariners to bring their boats inland and we had done swinging of the bridge yesterday and six. We’re doing one at one-thirty—we kept the bridge opened from one-thirty to about two o’clock and it’s gonna be swung back right now to allow pedestrians to cross the bridge. But we do this in the event of a hurricane just to allow persons to take their boats into the inland waters.”

Jose Sanchez

“I noticed that last year only a couple boats—I don’t see them moving right now—do you have to do it even though those people with boats are not taking the opportunity?

Darrell Bradley

Darrell Bradley

“Well, we have to. We have a plan in terms of our City Emergence Management and that involves the swinging of the bridge even though it’s something that persons may not use, we make sure that we swing bridge at least two or three times during any emergency just to allow persons who do want to take their boats inland to do so.”

Jose Sanchez

“Okay, the bridge is very old, it hasn’t been swung really in a long time. What’s the purpose of the equipment behind us?

Darrell Bradley

“Well, a back hoe had to be brought in because previously it used to be swung purely manually but now we need the assistance of the back hoe just to ensure that the bridge turns properly because, as you had said the bridge is old and so we need additional mechanical assistance to swing it.”

Jose Sanchez

“And to help the other backs that are actually on the bridge.”

Darrell Bradley

“Yes, yes.”