boca del rio

Under the collaborative leadership of Mayor Wally Nuñez, the San Pedro Town Council (SPTC) is spearheading a nature-based restoration project. This initiative, aimed at addressing decades of man-made impacts on the beach, is a testament to the current administration’s commitment to protect the shoreline. With the invaluable guidance of science advisor Guadalupe “Valentine” Rosado and other experts, SPTC focuses on restoring native island plants to stabilize the beach and gain a deeper understanding of sediment movement along the shoreline. The project also emphasizes using smart and sustainable strategies for beach nourishment, reflecting the collective responsibility towards the environment.

In October 2022, the San Pedro Town Council (SPTC) embarked on a project to save the downtown beaches. To address the issue, the SPTC began a restoration project with a demonstration site in Boca del Rio in front of the severely eroded beach at the San Pedro High School. The project employs nature-based solutions and the guidance of local scientists. A little over a year after its implementation, the local authorities report good results and a steady beach recovery.

Some of the construction crew rebuilding the old Sir Barry Bowen bridge at Boca del Rio lived in temporary living quarters next to the said structure during the project's duration. The bridge, renamed Boca del Rio, was officially inaugurated on June 29th. The construction crew left, but the living quarters remained next to the bridge, causing a bit of concern among some island residents. They say it is an eyesore, and the containers should be removed. According to the San Pedro Town Council (SPTC), they will be removed, but no timeline has been determined yet when this will take place.

Revelers invaded the main streets of San Pedro Town on Wednesday, September 21st, to celebrate the nation’s 41st Independence anniversary with a massive parade that included schools, citizen marching bands, and energetic carnival dancers. The parade, said to be the longest in island history, started from Blake Street and Coconut Drive, south of downtown, and ended north at the Boca del Rio beach park.

Work adding an extension to the Sir Barry Bowen Bridge at Boca del Rio continues. Once this is complete, the original bridge will be dismantled and rebuilt, turning it into a two-lane concrete structure. The bridge will not only be stronger, but according to Mayor Gualberto ‘Wally’ Nuñez, it will maintain a reasonable clearance allowing for the passage of large boats below.

In August of this year, Area Representative, Honourable Andre Perez said that funds had been secured to build a new bridge next to the Sir Barry Bowen Bridge at Boca del Rio. That announcement is now about to materialize as on Wednesday, December 22nd, surveyors were on the ground assessing the site for the new structure. Meanwhile, the piles (long concrete poles) for the bridge's foundation have been delivered, and according to reports from the San Pedro Town Council (SPTC) it is a matter of time before construction begins.

The Sir Barry Bowen Bridge that crosses the Boca del Rio was completed in 2006 and was designed only for golf carts and pedestrians. As the island grew, upgrades were needed, or the construction of another bridge. However, fast-forward to 2021, the bridge has gone with minimal repairs while accommodating the island’s rapid growth of daily wear and tear of heavy traffic. Never intended to bear heavy trucks and vehicles transporting construction materials to the popular area north of San Pedro Town, many fear it could one day collapse.

Area Representative, the Honourable Andre Perez, has confirmed that funds have been secured to build a new bridge next to the Sir Barry Bowen’s at Boca del Rio. The new bridge will accommodate the traffic flow demand heading into and from the northern part of Ambergris Caye, targeting large, heavy vehicles.