The last link of the Southern Highway is about to be paved - and soon enough, it will take travelers right up to the Belize Guatemala boundary. That's the stretch from the cutoff at Dump to Jalacte which abuts the Belize Guatemala border in the southwest.
The Forty Seven million dollar upgrading of a 23 mile stretch of the Southern Highway, is expected to give the residents of Western Toledo improved access to Punta Gorda and the rest of the country.
A signing agreement between the Government of Belize and the contractor, Cisco Construction Limited took place today at the Ministry of Works in Belmopan.
Cadet Henderson, CEO Ministry of Works
"This 23 miles of road has been an area of major maintenance demands for us due to the rugged terrain so it's a long overdue and we can't wait to see it upgraded to the standard we have designed."
Hon. Anthony "Boots" Martinez, Minister of Works
"Well I want to congratulate the successful tender Mr. Woods. Everybody in this country knows of the reputation of CISCO, they have been building some of the best roads in our country and we hope for him to keep it that way. I think it's
a very important road for the south of this country and the people of the south and by extension the country is waiting for this road and we hope to get it on quick and give the people the road they rightfully deserve."
John Woods, CISCO
"We are certainly excited about this job. It's going to be one of the biggest contracts we've ever signed. It's a 3 year contract at a time when jobs are scarce so we are excited about that. We will have stability over the next 3 years. Excited about the difference it's going to make to all the number of people that live in that area and about the future development of the country by having that road in. We take it serious, not only in the construction part of it but we take it very serious in the development of our people, our workers and every one that is involved in the project."
Funds for the implementation of the project come from a loan to the Belize Government by the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development and the OPEC Fund for the International Development, including the Central American Bank for Economic Integration, and counterpart funding contributed by the Government of Belize. The government says the paving will enhance commerce and trade between Belize and its Central American neighbors, while encouraging the formal establishment of a second border crossing with Guatemala.
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