Fabers Road in Belize City is an important thoroughfare - it's an alternate route to the Western Highway, especially for those trucks hauling containers to the Port of Belize on Caesar Ridge Road.
It was last paved 19 years ago - and today, it's all broken up, to the point that, in some parts, is almost unfit for driving, especially after intense rains.
Well, now, Faber's Road - or at least a part of it - is going to get a multimillion dollar makeover. The Ministry of Works today signed a contract with popular UDP contractor the Imer Hernandez Development Company for the "reconstruction" of a one mile portion of Faber's road.
And while it may only be a hair more than a mile being reconstructed, the contract is for almost 8 million dollars. A press release from the Government says that 7.995 million will be used for roadway clearance, including the removal of any remnant structures, obstructions, fencing and the like within the road reserve; earthworks; construction of reinforced concrete box drains, sidewalks with roadside curbs and runoff channels; and pavement rehabilitation including the construction of a rigid concrete pavement.
The release also says that it was put out to tender, and Imer Hernandez's company won the bid, since his offer was consistent with the engineer's estimate.
The press was not invited to a signing ceremony in Belmopan today led by Works Minister Rene Montero, Port Loyola Area Rep Anthony "Boots" Martinez, and Imer Hernandez. They only called the government press office, and here's what the two government ministers had to say:
Hon. Rene Montero - Minister of Works
"It is important - very important and strategic because it is in the Southside of Belize City. We are committed to improving the city, because it is still the commercial center of this country."
Hon. Anthony "Boots" Martinez - Port Loyola Area Representatives
"This Faber's Road is about my constituency. The Port of Belize sits in my constituency, and that is the main artery for the cargo going out to the districts, and coming in to go to the port. And especially with the Lake Independence Boulevard, linking Chetumal Street, it a main traffic area for the cargo going in and out from the Port."
According to our records, the last contract to "rehabilitate" Faber's Road was completed by CISCO Construction in 1998.
The value of that contract was just 1.86 million dollars for 1.6 miles of a 2-lane bitumen surface road, including 115 culverts. 20 years later, this contract is 8 million dollars for a little more than a mile.
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