A sturdy new pedestrian cable bridge has now been fully completed, replacing the old pedestrian crossing at Branch Mouth in the Cayo District. The new bridge has a greater loading capacity and has been elevated to accommodate a higher flood level where both the Mopan and the Macal River meet to form the Belize River.
A press release from the Government Press Office states that due to the urgency to restore proper and safe road access to students, villagers of surrounding areas and commuters in general, the Ministry of Works entered into a contract with a suitably experienced contractor, Luis Avella, using the limited tender procedure for construction of the new bridge.
The Branch Mouth Cable Bridge now comes with all runners on the decking platform, cable suspenders and decking platform, as well as a chain-link railing to enhance protection for all users. We crossed the bridge on Sunday and observed metallic mesh on both sides of the bridge to ensure safety.
With the new bridge in place it gives residents from Santa Familia and other villages quicker access to the central area of San Ignacio. Farmers like Narcisso Torres who maintains a five acre farm in the former Janny Sam area as well as a further one acre on the Kanan Kaax plot, can now transport his produce more quickly and also save on fuel. Beforehand farmers from Santa Familia gained access to San Ignacio via the Bullet Tree Falls bridge or the Iguana Creek Bridge located many miles away.
