First phase of northern Ambergris Caye road begins
Work on the first phase of the Ambergris Caye northern road has commenced, and is expected to be completed in three months. Construction started on Friday August 15th and in the first week, 600 feet of concrete material have been laid down by AM Construction, the subcontracting company that is executing the project. The entire project, aimed at improving the tourism fabric on the island, is estimated at $7 million. The first phase is being financed by the Government of Belize (GOB) at an estimated $3 million.
The total project includes the concreting of seven miles of road, a distance that extends from the Sir Barry Bowen Bridge to Blue Reef Resort. The project has been broken down in two phases, the first of which will see three miles of pavement from Belizean Shores Resort to the bridge, and costing $3 million. The second phase will consist of four miles of pavement running from Belizean Shores Resort to Blue Reef Resort, with an estimated cost of $4 million. The first phase of the project is being executed under the auspices of The San Pedro Town Council (SPTC). The SPTC had initially approached GOB for permission to secure a private loan, but instead, the government decided to fund the first phase of the project.
According to the Mayor of San Pedro Town Daniel Guerrero, the project is expected to boost tourism activities and improve the tourism fabric of the island, which is in line with the council's political mandate. It is also expected to increase real estate values. "This is a project that we promised, but more importantly, it is a project that is going to boost the economy on the island�it will be good for guests, for tourists and good for everyone; it is going to benefit everyone. We want to service the majority of our hotels and resorts. When we complete this seven miles project, we will have serviced over 98% of our hotels across the bridge�this will be a legacy for San Pedro Town. It will add something to the island because bicycles, golf carts and the motorcycles driving or riding up north will have to use the road. Residents will have no excuse to ride or drive on the beach front," said Guerrero. While monies for the first part of the project are coming from the GOB's coffers, Mayor Guerrero said that the SPTC is hoping that GOB will also undertake the second phase. If GOB cannot, the council will be looking at other options.
Pott indicated that the contract does not include placing shoulders along the sides of the road but rather the paving of three miles of road along with speed bumps near resorts. He did say that sand will be place on the shoulders of the road so that vehicles can be able to make it onto the concrete pavement. In regards to drainage and maintenance Pott added that, "we cannot avoid flooding on an island so when we have these conditions, the road will be under water�we foresee that maintenance will be done perhaps in 20 years from now because we are using 4000 psi (pounds per square inch) quality concrete. That is enough to put a [loaded] truck three days after the road is paved. The base has 3/8 size steel so the pavement is of good quality." Instead of slabs that are common within town, the road is being paved with concrete that will have three-inch deep cuts at various points on the pavement to prevent it from cracking.
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