Pedestrians and motorists in Belize City may have been wondering why the new sidewalks on the entrance to Belize City leading up to Cemetery Road are being built higher than the adjacent properties.
Well tonight, MIDH says the section of the George Price Highway near the cemetery is being raised as part of a flood mitigation project aimed at reducing flooding, improving drainage, and keeping the roadway accessible during periods of heavy rainfall.
According to the Chief Engineer, the area has long been vulnerable to flooding due to the loss of two natural drainage catchment areas: Krooman Lagoon and a lagoon behind Leslie's Imports, which have largely disappeared over the years because of residential development and informal settlements.
To address the issue, the project includes the construction of lined sidewalks with larger side drains that will collect and channel stormwater into designated outlet canals, requiring the highway to be elevated to achieve the necessary drainage capacity. He acknowledged that some nearby properties will remain lower than the upgraded roadway because they are located within the area's original floodplain, and a secondary earthen drain will be installed where practical to help improve drainage from those properties.
The ministry adds that all affected properties will receive appropriate driveway access to the upgraded highway, while noting that complete drainage improvements for low-lying lots would require those individual properties to be raised.
