7 News Belize

The Tale Of The Left Turn
posted (January 23, 2018)
The median on the Northern Highway is nothing new, in fact it has been there for quite some time now but many are still struggling to adjust to the idea of going down to the roundabout to make left turns.

Last night, we showed you a clip from an executive at Cisco Construction explaining the median and new no left turn rule.

Well, today we went out on to the highway to hear what commuters had to say and to our surprise, the reviews were not all negative.

Sahar Vasquez reporting
The reconstruction of Belize City's new six-lane highway is a major step of present-day progress but is it more trouble than it is worth?

Well for some Belizeans that is the feeling especially with the most recent median added to a road that is now a patchwork of hardcore fill, stones and clouds of dust.

The median has now eliminated the convenient left turn option. Now making a left turn on the highway means you have to go all the way to the roundabout.

One commuter parks his car and walks over the median just to avoid going all the way around.

Interviewee
"It is a waste of time right now because I have to go all around so I have to jump the fence here. Yea so but we are going to see how things go."

"Yea I have to park there because I wanted to come here to buy so then I would have to go all around and waste time so I just park on that side and run across."

And others feel it is just burning through their gas.

Interviewee
"They say that they are building a nice street but it costs us more to go all the way around because it is more gas to go all the way around and then come back. We are not feeling the benefit."

Interviewee
"I think it is kind of an inconvenience to drivers to go way to the roundabout to exit off to Brodies or you know somewhere to the left. Yes, you are wasting gas that is for sure. I mean with the price of gas in Belize that is very inconvenient and that is just my ten cents."

Interviewee
"It is frustrating I think they should not only consider breaking it but for example, I come from Corozal. I have two vehicles that I park right here in the city and it is on that side. For me to go park the vehicles I have to make an entire circle because they have blocked."

"WIth the price of gas you have to do so many circles now because there is no proper planning especially around 4 or 5 when all commuters are going home it is really frustrating."

But believe it or not, there are quite a few Belizeans who are excited about this change to a modern standard, and are willing to wait it out in order to have a nice highway.

Interviewee
"It is a nuisance at the moment but eventually it is going to work out fine for the citizens because I have been to the states where you have to go through these same roundabouts all over the place so it is going to be inconvenient for A Lot of people at this moment but when it is finished it will work out fine."

Interviewee
"It is inconvenient but I think in the future we will enjoy a nice road."

"I think it is safer for everyone. Pedestrians and people that drive."

Interviewee
"For me, I believe that development will always bring this kind of keep backs but at the end, we will see the benefit. It will be much easier to get out of this Brodies. It will be wider as well. For me, I don't mind to take the long drive and then turn back to come into Brodies. I don't mind."

Interviewee
"I think it is a good idea and most of all prevent fewer traffic accidents."

Sahar Vasquez
"So for you, it is not frustrating that you have to go all the way round to go to a store like Brodies?"

Interviewee
"No, because when we go to Chetumal or the states you will find the same thing. It is just the way we do things now."

So, for the time being, public opinion is split between embracing the new, modern mode of transport and clinging to the old convenient way. And while public opinion may change, this road likely won't - like it or loathe it, this median is here to stay.





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