Posted: Saturday, January 18, 2025. 11:55 am CST.
By Aaron Humes: Entering the New Year, Belize City remains where it was in November and December – with street potholes in the triple digits after the incessant rains which were only exacerbated by Tropical Storm Sara.
An initial Street Damage Assessment Report released in early November put the tab at just under $1.7 million to address 157 streets in all ten constituencies; it was later revised to 149 streets at a cost of $1,684,556 for material and equipment rental.
But all this time later, only one street which was not even on the original list has been fully repaired – St Thomas Street, which was hotmixed in mid-November to early December.
This week, Mayor Bernard Wagner said his Council does not shy away from the gravity of the problem, but they have been waiting for a definite break in rainfall which is expected entering the dry season.
“That is where we still stand; that’s why we are seeking capital,” he told us on the sidelines of this week’s Public Investment Forum.
While the portions of the Philip Goldson and George Price Highways within Belize City are the responsibility of the Council, the Ministry of Infrastructure Development and Housing (MIDH) undertook to hot mix the section between Central American Boulevard and Amandala Drive of the George Price Highway and will repair the rest even as it works on the remainder of each highway out to Belmopan and Ladyville respectively.
Last year Albert Vaughan, City Administrator, told Channel 7 News as to what type of material is used, “… we find that the concrete street stands up better with the water. Many of those are still standing up, yes, they flood but when that water goes down the concrete street stands up but you are right. I think we have to find some way to get the correct material. I am not an engineer so I can’t help in that field but yes, we have to look at it, those chip and seal, but you know we are doing hot mix so I think the hot mix will stand up much better in this weather so it has to elevate from that, definitely.”
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