Boca Del Rio Area

Construction on the Sir Barry Bowen Bridge in the Boca del Rio area has stopped for quite some time now, and only one section has been renovated. The original wooden half of the bridge is yet to be renovated. Residents have become increasingly concerned about when this section will be refurbished as it continues to deteriorate under the heavy use of small and large vehicles. According to motorists, the old bridge section shakes, and some of the wooden boards seem loose. In May, the San Pedro Town Council (SPTC) stated that works on this wooden part of the bridge would start immediately following the completion of the first half, but it's almost September, and there have been no updates about this project.

On Thursday, May 19th, the San Pedro Town Council (SPTC) announced that the old section of the Sir Barry Bowen bridge at Boca del Rio would be closed effective Friday, May 20th, due to structural damage. Motorists will have access to the bridge’s recently completed new extension. Any vehicle larger than a Polaris will be required to cross the bridge at a specific time.

San Pedro Police are investigating an incident on Friday night, December 17th, in the Boca del Rio area when 22-year-old Jose Henriquez was shot when two men opened fire on him, one of them known to the victim. He was treated at the Dr. Otto Rodriguez San Pedro Polyclinic II and later transported to Belize City for further medical attention.

Next month, dump trucks, utility vehicles, taxis, and golf cart rentals will be required to pay a monthly fee to use the Sir Barry Bowen Bridge in the Boca del Rio area. Mayor Gualberto ‘Wally’ Nuñez explained that private vehicle owners would be exempt, including residents of San Mateo.

In June, minor repairs were made to the Sir Barry Bowen Bridge by the Boca del Rio area. The repairs were to temporarily alleviate the bridge’s problems which included the replacement of some beams affected by corrosion. The ultimate goal of the local authorities is to secure funds and build a new structure. In the meantime, motorists, particularly those driving heavy vehicles, are asked to be cautious when crossing the bridge.

The beach strip along the Boca del Rio Area is about to undergo a thorough restoration, restricting vehicular traffic and making the sandy stretch more family friendly and attractive to locals and visitors. The restoration project is spearheaded by The San Pedro Town Council (SPTC) to address the congestion of traffic in the area and reclaim the beach that is slowly eroding.

In July of this year, The San Pedro Town Council (SPTC) embarked on a project to rehabilitate several streets on the Boca del Rio and San Juan Area. Three streets (Sea Gull, Spider Lily and Deer) were cemented and then works moved to the San Juan Sub-division.

To continue to promote reading among island children on Ambergris Caye, a third Little Free library was installed in the Boca del Rio Area in San Pedro Town on Wednesday, July 24th. The Little Free libraries operate under the honor system that you take a book and leave a book, so the content of the libraries constantly change.