A major infrastructure overhaul is coming to one of Belize City’s key river crossings, with long-term traffic changes set to alter daily commutes and freight movement across the region for months to come. The Burton Canal Bridge, a critical connector for local and through traffic heading into and out of Belize City, is scheduled for full replacement, and officials are rolling out preliminary traffic management plans months ahead of construction to minimize disruptions for local residents and commercial operators.
Chief Engineer Evondale Moody, the lead official overseeing the project, outlined the timeline and traffic restrictions in a recent televised public update. According to Moody, official public notifications of the upcoming changes are expected to be released imminently, either by the end of this week or early next week. The first step of the project will see the project contractor begin building a temporary single-lane diversion to facilitate construction on the main bridge structure. This narrow temporary route cannot accommodate the weight and volume of heavy goods traffic, prompting authorities to implement permanent restrictions for large vehicles starting in January 2027.
Under the new rules, only lightweight vehicles – including motorcycles, passenger cars, small buses, and light freight trucks – will be permitted to use the temporary diversion and the construction zone around the Burton Canal Bridge. All heavy goods vehicles, large trailers, and dump trucks traveling to and from Belize City’s port facilities will be required to reroute via the John Smith-Philip Goldson Highway for both inbound and outbound trips. Moody explained that the weight limit and capacity of the single-lane diversion makes heavy vehicle access impossible, adding that the early rollout of advance notice is designed to give commuters, logistics companies, and local residents enough time to adjust their travel routes ahead of the restriction taking effect.
The three-month lead time between the public announcement and the implementation of restrictions is a deliberate choice by project officials, who aim to help road users adapt to the new traffic pattern before construction ramps up fully. This project, which will reshape the transportation landscape of this part of Belize City, is part of ongoing infrastructure upgrades to replace aging crossing structures across the country.