The Baron Bliss Lighthouse - it is one of Belize City's oldest and truest landmarks and has stood for decades - but could it be falling into the sea? According to the engineers at MIDH - it's starting to tip in that direction and urgent repairs are needed to restore it. The MIDH was asked to make an assessment of its current state - and here's the report from the Chief Engineer:
Evondale Moody, Chief Engineer - MIDH
"Based on our assessment, we have observed that the lighthouse is basically not vertical anymore. It's half plumb and it's leaning from what we calculated about 4% off, leaning towards the east. From what we've observed and also our inspection showed that the lighthouse itself has two cracks in the foundation itself."
"The foundation is basically about five meters by 4.8 meters wide by about 0.8 meters in depth. So it's basically like a pad footing. It's not on piles or anything like that to support the entire structure."
"From our knowledge, the structure was built in 1952, I understand, and so it's almost 75 years old, it's about 73 years old. Based on our analysis and our assessment of the structure, what is critical to inform you of is that the retaining walls that are on the southeast and also on the southwest section of the lighthouse, those are what has deteriorated significantly."
"This southwest section, which is the section nearer to the Haulover Creek, is basically a retaining wall structure with a capping beam. It has some piles in there, but that has basically deteriorated over the years."
"It originally had some brickwater rocks protection in front of it. Those have gone. And so that is what is creating the structure to lean forward towards the east. The structure itself for the lighthouse, we have seen signs of exposure of this fieldwork, whereby you have spalling of concrete from the structure, and so the reinforcement is now exposed to the environment."
"The parties involved will have to decide what they're going to do moving forward with the structure. From what we saw, there is no effect on the grave itself because the structure is leaning, as I said, more towards the east."
"So if it may collapse, then it would more likely collapse into the sea. Our recommendation, based on the assessment done by our engineers, our recommendation is for it to be reconstructed. More than likely, it would have to be reconstructed directly in front of where it is currently located."
"It would be difficult for us to build it in the original location because of the grave and the close proximity to the grave itself because of limitation of space. In addition to that, it would be easier for you to just pile directly in front and create a pile foundation and then build from there because definitely you would need to reconstruct both retaining wall and the rock protection as well."
The Lighthouse is the responsibility of Belize Port Authority and we'll reach out to them for comment next week.
