Boca Del Rio, it's the natural channel that separates Northern San Pedro from the center of the town in Southern San Pedro. But more than just a split, it's almost a borderline separating what seems like two different worlds: north of the split there's no electricity poles, no phone service, no water and no serviceable roads. That's the difference that an 80 foot channel has created. But, no more, now a new structure is bridging the gap between north and south and today we found out that in fact San Pedro's leaders have built a bridge to the future with help from a very wealthy and well-known islander.

Jules Vasquez Reporting,
This is the old way of getting across the Boca del Rio split: an beat up ferry with no mechanical crank. It's a primitive and painstaking process and one that still costs $10 for each round trip. And while that's the old way, this is the new way. A modern triple span bridge, 120 feet long and 23 feet wide. Judged from any angle it's a stellar improvement and quite an engineering accomplishment.

Jules Vasquez,
Is this a chance for Medina's, for you private engineers, to show?

Omar Vega, Project Manager
"Of course this is a big showoff because to build a bridge this magnitude in four months…for Medina's to engineer building bridges it's a really show off. I mean that's the way we are supposed to be thinking, building things on time."

On schedule. It's quite a feat indeed, the bridge was build in just four months by 30 men for $750,000 with accommodations for the local conditions.

Omar Vega,
"This bridge is made of galvanized steel and its painted with a paint that will withstand all the the salt in the air and the atmosphere."

And more than just weather-proof, the Medina Construction crew was eager to show the bridge's load bearing capacity, from a front end loader with back hoe or a loaded cement truck to a gravel truck while the old ferry could only carry a golf car and squeeze on two.

Omar Vega,
"Well Jules the bridge has a capacity of twenty to twenty five tons with a safety factor of 30% so that means it can hold up to 30 to 35 tons."

The bridge is also able to allow passage for 95% of the water crafts that must pass under it while barges will have to go around. With all those features, Area Representative Manuel Heredia Jr. says it's a great boon for the community.

Hon. Manuel Heredia Jr., Belize Rural South
"I think the community as whole at this point feels very comfortable and glad especially we have about 400 to 500 workers that everyday have to cross the ferry and they had to wait more than an hour before they could cross on the other side and you know coming home from work tired and hungry, it will be I think an ease for all of them whenever they are crossing the bridge as they go home to meet their family and have a probably a nice cold beer after that."

And if Heredia has his say, that beer of choice would have to be Belikin. Why? Well this is built with beer money or if not at least Barry's money. Barry Bowen personally financed this project, oversaw construction and sponsored the design and engineering free of charge to the town council:

Jules Vasquez,
Explain how this unusual arrangement with Mr. Bowen financing the construction of the bridge came into being.

Hon. Manuel Heredia Jr.,
"Well Jules from 1994 to 1997 when I was mayor, I had a very good relationship with Mr. Barry Bowen. I believe that he is a person that if you approach him, and if you can deal straight with the guy, you can get many things accomplished. He loves San Pedro, this is his home town, and he wants good things to happen on the island. So when I spoke to him about the bridge, he immediately said, 'Manuel I have contacts in England that I can help you finance the bridge, I can help you make this a reality.' As you said, its very unusual but again because we are a UDP town council, it would have been very hard for a government to put up almost three quarters of a million dollars in investment out of his pocket. It would have been difficult for government to say we'll give you this bridge. And I am sure that if government had built this bridge, it would have cost at least a million dollars. So we are very very grateful to Mr. Bowen and he has promised that whenever we win on the 1st of March, probably it will be a revolving fund that whenever we pay part of this, that other part can be used for other investments."

It's a package deal loaded with political implications but right now it's just a bridge and one that can meet Northern San Pedro's present and future needs.

Hon. Manuel Heredia Jr.,
"If we think about tomorrow and about development, in the future this bridge will serve its purpose. So we have to think about development."

Bowen is providing the financing for 5 years at a rate of 12%. It is foreseen that the bridge will pay for itself through tolls collected for cars and golf carts. That toll will be the same as it is for the ferry: $10 per round trip. Pedestrians and bicycle users will be allowed free passage. It is estimated that 400 to 500 bicycles cross the ferry daily. The bridge will be officially opened on Saturday evening by benefactor Bowen, an event timed, no doubt, to boost the fortunes of the UDP in San Pedro which has claimed credit for the bridge. Right after the opening, the UDP personalities will segue over to party rally half a block away from the bridge site.