Traffic Survey Conducted As Belize City Prepares For Major Bridge And Highway Works

Belize City residents are being urged to prepare for possible adjustments to their daily commuting routines as the city moves forward with a number of major infrastructure projects that are expected to impact traffic flow.  The Belize City Council, in collaboration with a technical team from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), recently conducted a detailed traffic survey focusing on the Belcan Bridge and the historic Swing Bridge. The survey was carried out over a five-day period, with monitoring taking place for fifteen hours each day in order to capture a comprehensive picture of how both bridges are used during peak and off-peak periods.  City officials say the exercise was designed to gather critical data on the number of vehicles, pedestrian movement, and traffic patterns across the two crossings. The information will help guide planning for upcoming infrastructure works which are expected to require temporary traffic diversions and adjustments for motorists and commuters.

The findings of the survey were presented during last night’s Belize City Council town meeting by Mayor Bernard Wagner, who explained that the data will be instrumental in helping the city manage traffic more efficiently once construction activities begin.

Bernard Wagner, Mayor of Belize City: “During that 15-hour period which spans like five days, the Belcan Bridge really recorded 15,352 vehicles, making it the highest vehicular traffic crossing in Belize City. On the other hand, the Swing Bridge recorded 8,532 vehicles during that same period. But here is where it becomes even more important. While the swing bridge carries fewer vehicles than Belcan, it carries the highest pedestrian traffic volume in the city. In just 15 hours, the Swing Bridge recorded 7,603 pedestrians, 1,608 bicycles, and 1,873 motorcycles. In contrast, the Belcan Bridge recorded 3,607 pedestrians and 2,386 bicycles.”

According to Wagner, the information collected highlights the heavy reliance residents place on both bridges and underscores the need for proper planning as the city prepares for works that will temporarily disrupt normal traffic routes.  The mayor also used the opportunity to encourage residents to consider alternative commuting arrangements, including carpooling, noting that the survey revealed significant inefficiencies in the current use of vehicles within the city.  Mayor Wagner pointed out that in many cases vehicles traveling across the bridges were occupied by only a single individual, a trend he says contributes to congestion during peak hours. He suggested that greater use of carpooling and ridesharing could help reduce traffic pressure, particularly while infrastructure works are underway.

Bernard Wagner, Mayor of Belize City: “The report also showed that a staggering 84% of traffic movement in Belize City consists of private cars, SUVs and pickups, while taxis accounted for 12%. The technical data also showed that in those vehicles they carried an occupancy rate of just 1.79 persons per private vehicle, and an average of 1.78 across all vehicles. So it’s less than two persons or closer to persons in one vehicle. So you said, what does that mean, Mayor? It means we are moving too many vehicles with too few people. It means our road space per person is inefficient. And so during construction, that inefficiency will amplify congestion. Freetown Road consistently records the highest morning peak volumes, making it a primary pressure point during the Belcan Bridge Works. Citizens are strongly encouraged to begin to consider carpool where possible to reduce the number of private vehicles on the road during peak hours. Use the public transportation, use the e-bus, and let me be blunt, this will require sacrifice. There’s this famous saying, if you don’t sacrifice for what you want, what you want becomes the sacrifice. And the gist of that quote is essentially saying that we cannot pursue greatness without being prepared to sacrifice greatly.”

The Belize City Council says the collaboration with the JICA team forms part of a broader urban mobility planning initiative aimed at improving traffic management and ensuring that residents are prepared for the changes that will come with the city’s next phase of infrastructure development./