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In other news from the MIDH, by the end of the year, the Haulover Bridge would have gotten an overhaul. The brand new bridge - which is currently under construction - will be ready for drivers, and is being built to last for decades.
But while that bridge is getting the attention it needs, the other bridges in the city - and the country - are in a critical state. Today, the Minister of Infrastructure agreed that bridges like the Belchina and Hawkesworth Bridge need urgent attention.
Julius Espat, Minister of Infrastructure Dev. & Housing
"We have been quite clear on that. We did a feasibility study on the on the BelCan, and we did one on the Bel China, and we did one on Swing Bridge, the most urgent in need of the three is the BelCan Bridge, because that has suffered some structural damage to the pillars. And Bel China needs refurbishment of paint and it flaking off a bit of rust and bringing it back."
"Bel China has a problem in that they abandoned for many years the ability for that bridge to open. You remember that bridge used to be able to open up. And so it was never maintained and I don't even know who to blame now because it has been so much years. We have to analyze to see if that will have the ability to open up again."
"And then Swing Bridge, we are in discussions with the government of Japan who is interested in donating a replacement bridge, and we are going through the bureaucratic process with them. They are very, very, very peculiar in how they award these things. Hopefully it can be done and we have a feasibility study that we link the three bridges to the project that we are calling the George Price Highway where we are seeking financing for that to be a part of it."
"So we are looking at government of Taiwan, government of Japan, CDB, IDB, Coative Fund, Norway. We are looking at Saudi Arabia fund, the Qatar Fund to see what is the best option and at the least rate and to be able to get that done because it is critical and not only those bridges you got to the entire country to maintain the bridges."
"Hawkesworth again, you have to maintain it. And so it's it's a it's a daily challenge. Every single day we have bridges and drains and streets and gravel roads and paved roads and and garbage is becoming a major portion of our effort because we we we sadly as Belizeans, we are not appreciating our country the way we should."
