BRIDGETOWN, Barbados — The board of directors of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) has approved a loan of US$36.6 million and a grant of £25 million to the government of Belize, to upgrade the Coastal Highway. The funds will be used to improve climate resilience along the road, and increase connectivity between the southern and northern sections of Belize.
“The project will have a transformative impact in nearby communities by reducing travel time, improving access to services such as health and education, and boosting economic development. Currently, the distance between the northern and southern districts, specifically between Dangriga and Belize City is around 119 km via the paved George Price and Hummingbird Highways. This project is expected to upgrade the Coastal Highway from an unpaved gravel road to a paved road, and in doing so reduce travel distances to 45 km between the north and south of Belize,” said Daniel Best, director, Projects Department, CDB.
The Sixth Road (Coastal Highway Upgrading) Project is also expected to improve climate resilience along the road. Currently, the highway is prone to flooding, as significant portions of the road are low-lying. The investments will support bridge repairs and replacement, pavement upgrading and safety improvements.
