If you've taken a drive to the airport in the last six months you've likely seen the massive works being done on the soon to be new haul-over bridge.
It's a project many might say was long overdue because the narrow old bridge has been responsible for traffic jams and long commutes for at least a decade.
But perhaps, this new bridge had to wait on just the right engineer and from what we've seen that's just what it got in project manager Megan Martinez, I met up with her this afternoon to talk about the future of this modern marvel and the challenges it's facing from the public as it edges ever closer to completion. Here's that story:
This mega structure set to be joined with its twin on the other side of the Belize river is soon to become the new Haulover bridge.
It's a feat of engineering that many making the daily trek between Ladyville to Belize City have gotten to see at every stage.
But this week as the bridge beams, the longest ever manufactured in Belize, are set to be put in place, drivers, motorists and the public at large have had to sit still and really pay attention.
And this afternoon 7News drove up to site to get the details on the build from the woman at the helm of project management 27-year-old Civil engineer Megan Martinez.
Megan Martinez, Quality Control Manager, Haulover Bridge Replacement Project
"This structure in itself is going to be the longest bridge in Belize because we have a bridge basically approaching a bridge called a viaduct and then we have a three span bridge over the river so in total we have 13 spans of bridge going from the south side of Belize City to the northside which is you know Ladyville, so it's extremely impressive it's like one of a kind longest bridge and it's definitely been such an honor to work on this project because you know it's climate resilient, it's 100% Belizean design and made so it's one of those things that will always be like an icon for the future generations to see you know."
And this engineer who found her calling through her love of mathematics says the completion of this bridge, her 8th will be something of a dream come true.
Megan Martinez, Quality Control Manager, Haulover Bridge Replacement Project
"I mean as it is I am so excited because you can walk about this bridge, you have a nice side walk on both sides so I am sure the Belizean people will love it, you will be able total a walk across the bridge if you like to take long walks, one mile, two miles, you could walk up on this bridge two times and it's going to be really nice, you have the river and the mangroves, it is going to be beautiful so after that first drive over it's going to be the best feeling for all of us a nice wide bridge connecting Belize City to Ladyville."
But right now progress is presenting the APPROACH to the bridge with some growing pains.
Dwight Gentle, Health & Safety Officer, Haulover Bridge
"We just try to exercise patience and courtesy to the drivers, we try to enlighten them and let them have a full understanding in tier role in playing and abiding by the safety situations on the road when these beams are being transported from the major site or from our factory site to the construction site."
Megan Martinez, Quality Control Manager, Haulover Bridge Replacement Project
"You know there a re a lot of things you need to arrange and try to plan so one of our biggest difficulties I guess would be that transportation, so making all of those curves and going on the highway safely."
Dwight Gentle, Health & Safety Officer, Haulover Bridge
"I also want to ask the motorcyclist to take extra precaution because they seem to like to, you know they don't like to listen and you have to-really break it down into small change for them to let them understand that their lives are in danger number one and number two when any accident would occur if they don't comprehend or don't work or cooperate along with us a lot of other things can happen, the project can slow down and things and time is money, so we need to assure that the general public is aware and cooperates with us in these ventures."
And it's not just the motorists that have to take care it's also those navigating the river.
Megan Martinez, Quality Control Manager, Haulover Bridge Replacement Project
"The safety on the river for, sure, we have a lot of, you will see during the day there are a lot of tourists boats that go in and out and a lot of people like fishing, so that's one of the main things, making sure that the people who travel on this river are aware and safe and I guess when the future comes and hopefully by the end of this year or early next year when we are opening this bridge here will be a little inconvenience with the traffic diversions in the end but all in all it will be worth it and I hope that the Belizean people are patient with us because we are just relying to make the best quality bridge for us because we are all the Belizean people, it's for our Belizean people to enjoy and you know reap the benefits."
Again drivers, motorists, boat enthusiasts and anyone else making an approach to the bridge this week is asked to proceed with caution.
