Caracol Road Upgrading Project — Sections 1A and 1B

The Government of Belize secured a loan from the OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID) for the Caracol Road Upgrading Project.
This project, located in the Cayo District, was appraised by the OPEC Fund for International Development and presented to its board of directors who approved a loan to the Government of Belize. The Caracol Road Upgrading Project will be carried out in two sections, Sections 1A and 1B.
With no objection from the funding agency, the Government of Belize signed a contract for the Caracol Road Upgrading Project with Belize Roadway Construction — Section IA, in the amount of BZ$37,998,176,55. Section 1B, in the amount of BZ$13,992,917.15, was signed with A&N Construction Ltd.
Section IA is approximately 25.9km (16 miles). On the ground, this is from the intersection with the George Price Highway in Georgeville, a distance 18.6km to the tripartite intersection; and from the intersection with the George Price Highway in Santa Elena, passing through Cristo Rey and San Antonio Villages, a distance of 15km to the tripartite intersection, the unpaved portion to be upgraded being 7.3km (4.5 miles).
The project includes the construction of earthen embankments, crushed gravel pavements and two (3.65m) lanes with (1 m) shoulders that have a double bituminous chipseal wearing course. The road drainage scheme will also be upgraded through the replacement of undersized culverts and the upgrading in some cases to reinforced concrete box structures. A small reinforced concrete bridge will be constructed at Barton Creek. The 8m single span bridge structure is designed to AASHTO Standards and is of reinforced concrete build, with precast girder elements. Additional improvements include the addition of modern safety features including high visibility signs, road edge markers, painted lane markings, safety rails and traffic calming measures as needed in villages.
Section 1B is approximately 8.8km (5.5miles). Physically this is from the tripartite intersection, a distance of 8.8 km to the intersection of the Caracol road and the Blancaneaux Lodge Line.
The project includes the construction of earthen embankments, crushed gravel pavements, and two (3.65m) lanes with (1 m) shoulders that have a double bituminous chipseal wearing course. The road drainage scheme is also upgraded through the replacements of undersized culverts and the upgrading in some cases to reinforced concrete box structures. The road segment will be completed with modern ancillary road safety features, including high visibility road signs, edge markers, lane markings, and safety rails.
The project will be implemented by the Ministry of Works — Project Execution Unit, while NARCO Consultants of Kuwait will provide technical and administrative supervision. It is anticipated that works for both sections will commence immediately.