The planned upgrade and resealing of Belize’s Thomas Vincent Ramos Highway has hit an unexpected snag, with construction crews forced to pull back and complete corrective work on already finished stretches of the roadway, according to Chief Engineer Evondale Moody.
Moody explained that the core issue stems from water infiltration into the original road base, which has compromised the integrity of multiple non-contiguous sections spanning roughly 3.8 total kilometers. The water damage has led to the development of potholes and surface depressions that require full resurfacing to correct.
Originally launched in 2024, the project was designed as a simple resealing effort that retained the highway’s original underlying structure, which was first constructed in 2000. Project planners did not anticipate that the 26-year-old formation would degrade so rapidly after the new surface layer was applied. Once the hot mix asphalt sealing was completed, crews discovered that water was seeping through the new layer into the old base material, which had already weakened after decades of use. The disintegrated base created uneven surfaces and structural defects that could not be left in place without risking further, more costly damage down the line.
Since the primary construction contractor is still active on site, project officials have coordinated with the firm to complete the required remedial work before moving forward with the remaining sections of the upgrade. As of the latest update, work on the highway continues, with no new completion date publicly announced.