RECONSTRUCTION WORKS BEGIN ON HUMMINGBIRD AND SOUTHERN HIGHWAYS

June 03, 2008

The devastating floods associated with Tropical Depression Arthur caused major damage in southern Belize. While homes and lives have been lost, major parts of the Hummingbird and Southern Highway were also destroyed by the strong current and water that washed through the areas. For most of yesterday both highways were impassable. Today we contacted Cadet Henderson, CEO in the Ministry of works who updated us on the reconstruction works being carried out on the highways.

Cadet Henderson: CEO in the Ministry of Works

“Last night we had completed restoration of two culvert at mile 16 and 23 on the hummingbird sufficiently to allow traffic to past but early this morning the one at mile 23 was washed out again but it was reinstated at 10 30 this morning. Also we noted that there were some land slides occurring on the Hummingbird Highway. Clean up is in process this does not obstructing traffic but it does pose a risk so with this kind of occurrence continuing in the area. We want to advise motorist if they don’t absolutely need to travel along the Hummingbird Highway to avoid traveling in the area. Mullins River Bridge continues to be down that collapse on the Manatee Road, Kendal Bridge as well is down that collapsed yesterday as well. Mile 4 on the Stann Creek Valley Road Sarawee Village area as we speak is flooded with three feet of water. We had last report from one of our engineers on the site and it was rising. Mile 8 to 9 on the Stann Creek Valley Road also the flooding has been rising in that area but it is not raining much in the vicinity today so we believe it should go back down shortly.”

And while the Hummingbird Highway is passable at this time, the southern part of the country is completely cut off from the rest of the country. That is because the Kendal Bridge was completely washed away by the flood. Henderson told Love News that nothing can be done about this for another week or until the water goes down.

Cadet Henderson: CEO in the Ministry of Works

“Until the water recede there is nothing we can do. We have no emergency bridge that could span that gap is almost 300 feet. But I would say within a week will have some temporary access created that will allow motorist to pass but for now it is just impassable and some boating activity will take place in terms of shuttling people across the river but an access that will allow vehicular crossing cannot be in place for another week.”

Henderson says work will continue to try and rectify the problem with the Kendal Bridge. As was mentioned on our morning show today, informal discussions is on the way with Guatemalan counterparts in relation to temporary bridge as replacing this bridge is high priority.