AmbergrisCaye.com Home Forums Talk Belize Chat Area Bridge to Mexico

There WAS no Cancun 40 years ago. It was created by the Mexican govt. who knew what the $$$$$$$$ of tourism meant to their economy. They will have developed their entire coastline within the next 10 years max. and just ONE of their last endeavors is the development of the Quintana Roo---coastline as one of the latest and newest bastions for tourist $$$$$$$$$. Their are numerous Mayan attractions inland, as well. Ask SIN--he knows.

Political pie in the sky maybe, but I heard a prominent politician recently say the road between Mexico and Ambergris Caye had already been started - I'm not sure if that was physically or the planning - and that the starting point was not at the San Pedro end.

Just ten years ago along the Mayan Riviera there were few to no hotels outside the towns, the coast is solid hotels down to where, Tulum now?

It is a matter of time, the only question is how much of it. Too much money in undeveloped land that is cheap by Caribbean beachfront standards. Do the numbers on 26 miles at (a probably conservative) US$1500 per front foot and it's well over US$200 Million on just the beachfront. That's either a lot of money not earning a return or a lot of retirement lots for the baby boomers!

Looks like Mexico has already started on the 6-lane suspension bridge to the mega-highway going south into Ambergris Caye, joining up to the proposed Ambergris International Airport with its 3 mega-terminals with easy connections to the planned Hilton, Marriott and Sheraton 500 room ultra-resorts each with its own 18 hole PGA golf course.

Meanwhile here in San Pedro I'm washing my tennis shoes because they got covered in street mud from today's rains. I didn't even take my rental golf cart out of the yard because I have no wish to destroy my brother-in-laws (Cholo's) golf cart by attempting to actually DRIVE it on these ridiculous roads.

yeah but thats what makes AC unique, and unlike any other island in the Carribean, i don't think that there will ever be a highway to mainland MEX the "true locals" (sanpedranos that have been liviing on this island for there entire lives) won't let that happen.

Chris,
I have seen the bridge and can't wait to cross over..ok, but you went before

Why Can't there be an airstrip? Is that a worse thing that a road/bridge? Just curious..

lacysbeach, the photo above (taken yesterday) is of the channel in Mexico close to Ambergris. So is the subject of this thread. You're thinking of the bridge over the San Pedro "river" which is almost done.

For an airstrip to go in where the old one still is up north needs a reason. You know, a town, some people, that kind of thing.

Glad I started this topic, as it has brought many questions, and a lot of interest, as well as some answers.
Chris, thanks for pic, will try and get up there in next few trips.

Are the Mexicans going to put a bridge over the channel? I thought it was blasted to allow larger ferry boats and possibly cruise ships more access.

Good point about there not being a main road deeded on northern Ambergris Caye BDBelize.

The government isn't going to spearhead a road and bridge project in this area.

It's taken AC over 25 years to put in the imminent bridge, who on earth would want to start the bridge to Mexico?

Folks that own land on Northern Ambergris Caye (north of Rocky Point) bought there because they want to get away from the hustle and bustle of San Pedro, do you really think they will give up parts of their property for a road that will hook up to Quintana Roo??

Lacybeach, there is already an airstrip on North Ambergris Caye.

The big differnce between Belize and Mexico is that if the Mexican government wants to own the beachfront that is held by the private sector, it goes out and gets it. On the other hand, because of the laws of Belize, the GOB will not be able to go out and snatch private land away from the owners, it would need to buy the land at fair market value. Soooo, that ain't gonna happen. Therefore it is highly unlikely that the government of Belize is going to spearhead a road or bridge.

The canal is a military installation built by the military.
It was built to give the navy access to the Caribbean without having to go through Belizean waters.
The canal will only accomidate shallow draft boats. Access to it through the Bay of Chetamal is also very shallow. There is little intent at this time for commercial/tourism traffic.
The reef wasn't damaged during construction.
Building the Basil Jones airstrip into an airport able to handle commercial traffic is a financial undertaking that neither the GOB, private sector or both combined could bare, not now, not in the near future.