Five years after being constructed, the Boca del Rio Bridge in San Pedro has been completely paid off.
Jorge Aldana reporting
“The Boca Del Rio Bridge, located on the northern part of San Pedro Town was built exactly five years ago, on February of 2006 amongst major opposition from residents on northern Ambergris Caye. The bridge was built at an estimated Belize $750,000; an interest free loan granted to the municipality by the late Sir Barry Bowen. The monies for the repayment of the loan were expected to be generated from a $10.00 toll, collected from motorist wishing to use the bridge. It is the most expensive toll in the entire county, and for the already economically challenge residents of San Mateo who live across the bridge, it has been of a lesser benefit to them. No report has been compiled as to how much money was generated over the past five years at the toll but the good news is that the bridge has been paid off. Yes, the entire loan was paid off since last year. Love News confirmed that since the last quarter of last year the loan was paid off in full. The bad news is that there is no indication if the toll price at the bridge will be lower. Back in 2006, the Mayor of San Pedro Town, Elsa Paz indicated that as soon as the bridge was paid off, the toll price would reduce. Well there has been no official word from the Town Council when and if the charge will reduce to accommodate the residents living across the bridge. As it is now, residents in the San Mateo Area, an area with no infrastructure, are not allowed to ferry material in vehicles over the bridge even though the bridge is open to public vehicular traffic. Even though the bridge was designed to accommodate golf carts, cyclists and pedestrians only, large vehicles have been allowed to ferry materials for the construction of private homes and resorts. So with the bridge already paid off what can the residents living over the bridge on northern Ambergris Caye expect? While Mayor Paz decline to comment, she indicated that already the bridge is in need of major repairs. She said that those repairs will be in the tune of over Belize $300,000. No indication as to which part of the bridge needs repair since just last year, the bridge went through major renovation that took over 8 weeks to be completed. According to the San Pedro Town Council, a detail report as to how much money has been collected during the past five years at the bridge will be compiled and ready as part of the Town Council Financial report and will be presented at a public meeting at a date yet to be announced. Again Mayor Paz declined to comment.
LoveFM

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