The press also asked Espat for an update on the upgrade of the Coastal Highway. This famously bad road was first marked out in the late 80s, but it was never upgraded to international standard.
Last year, in July, the Coastal, which users affectionately know as the "red road," started receiving its first coat of pavement with funding from the Caribbean Development Bank. The problem is parts of the road cut through the Maya Forest Corridor, which, according to conservationists, is Belize's most important and most threatened wildlife corridor.
So, to allow for animals to safely traverse the two sides of the highway, it was agreed between the government and the conservationists that two culverts would be built as wildlife underpasses. Also, it has to be constructed to withstand harsh weather conditions. Today, the press asked the Infrastructure Development Minister about the status of that project:
Duane Moody
"I was told that it's about 80% complete."
Julius Espat - Minister of Infrastructure Development & Housing
"The Coastal Highway, and again an inherited project by us. That's a difficult one, though because that one is in a real flood zone. And, and even the UK Government, when we came in, there were complaints that the sizes of the culverts were not adequate for the animals to pass. We sat with the UK Government. We sat with all the environmentalists, and we made some structural changes to the culvert so that they can follow the specifications that were recommended. That financing, we did on our own. So we are listening to people. We go out and we consult. And even though the projects have already been signed, if there is a way of bettering it, we do. Another example is the Roaring Creek area, where we insisted that they put in the pedestrian walkway. We are about right now to do an adjustment to the approach to that Roaring Creek Bridge because if you're aware, when they had the flood the last time, the little piece that approaches the bridge gets flooded. So, we will be dealing with that part. So it doesn't matter who starts the project, it doesn't matter. Once it's done efficiently, once it's done professionally, and Belizeans get the buck for money, and we benefit from it, I think it's good."
Duane Moody
"So, I just want to know where are we in terms of that coastal highway? Are we at 80% completed? Where are we going do?"
Julius Espat
"The supervisors are the same supervisor from here at Polytechnica. The contractor is different, and the supervisors from the Ministry of Work are still a project execution unit. The update report that I have received they're on the schedule. They had a couple of setbacks when we had some of the floodings. They had a couple of set up during COVID, but they have made the time, and they're on schedule."
