The **Philip Goldson Highway**, alternatively known as Route AR2 within the national route classification system, joins [[settlement:12]] through [[settlement:186]] and [[settlement:64]] with the Mexican border at the state of Quintana Roo. # History At a public meeting on March 1845 it was voted on to spend $600 for clearing the Haulover Road and for constructing a large scow to transport cattle at that place.https://dokumen.pub/archives-of-british-honduras-vol-3-from-1841-to-1884.html On January 21, 1848 tolls were introduced for the Haulover Ferry. 10d for every person and 1/8thd per head of cattle or horse.https://dokumen.pub/archives-of-british-honduras-vol-3-from-1841-to-1884.html In April 1866 the Haulover Road was completed.https://dokumen.pub/archives-of-british-honduras-vol-3-from-1841-to-1884.html By 1868 a road already existed between [[settlement:186(1868)]] and [[settlement:64(1868)]] but not to [[settlement:12(1868)]] yet. https://dokumen.pub/archives-of-british-honduras-vol-3-from-1841-to-1884.html In 1892 the locals complained of the bad condition of the Haulover Road.Colonial Guardian 1892-02-06 In 1923 the first [[bridge:19(1868)]] was constructed replacing the Haulover Ferry.https://amandala.com.bz/news/the-new-haulover-bridge-inaugurated/ Construction of the road from the Haulover to [[settlement:64(1920)]] was started sometime in the 1920s. By 1925 the road from [[settlement:139(1925)]] to [[settlement:186(1925)]] had been constructed.https://ambergriscaye.com/pages/town/HistoryofOrangeWalk.html By 1938, 85 miles had been completed and opened to motor traffic.https://ia801507.us.archive.org/6/items/colonial-reports-1938-1894/ColonialReports1938-1894.pdf In 1939 the entire highway was completed.https://ufdcimages.uflib.ufl.edu/AA/00/05/43/44/00001/AA00054344_00001.pdf In 1966 the Tower Hill Bridge was built with the first and last toll booth ever in Belize, replacing the ferry that had been there since before 1948.https://ia801001.us.archive.org/20/items/colonial-report-brit-honduras-1948/ColonialReportBritHonduras1948.pdf ## Northern Highway The highway was officially commissioned in 1968 as the Northern Highway. On December 3, 1969, the [[bridge:85(1969)]] was completed with a road built to the Northern Highway's junction with [[road:50(1969)]] and [[road:51(1969)]], bringing it from a regular t-junction to a crossroad with slip roads on all sides. Around this time the boulevard was built from the [[roundabout:41(1969)]] to the [[roundabout:39(1969)]].https://ambergriscaye.com/photogallery/210514.html In 1978-79, 30 miles (48 km) of new highway was constructed by Teichroeb and Sons which brought the route much further to the west between [[settlement:12(1979)]] and [[settlement:186(1979)]], and much closer to [[settlement:76(1979)]], to which a causeway and road was built in 1984. At the same time the Belcan and Buttonwood Bay Roundabouts were constructed[HISTORY CONFLICT].https://www.sanpedrosun.com/politics-and-government/2012/09/29/two-highways-renamed-on-independence-day-in-honor-of-national-heroes/ Also at this time in May of 1978 an experiment was carried out, using paving material from limestone at a few selected locations.https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5cdbf58440f0b66b07c74e3e/1_501_PA3450_1999.pdf The [[road:40(2004)]] was completed on September 9, 2004 bypassing [[settlement:186(2004)]] to the east, crossing the [[waterway:206(2004)]] twice.https://archive.channel5belize.com/archives/12775 ## Philip Goldson Highway On 21 September 2012, Prime Minister Dean Barrow announced that it would be renamed the Philip Goldson Highway, named after a Belizean activist, editor and politician. The highway passes the international airport also named for Philip Goldson.https://archive.channel5belize.com/archives/12775 In 2015 the [[roundabout:36(2015)]] was constructed at the [[road:9(2015)]] junction.https://www.7newsbelize.com/sstory.php?nid=30490 During the same year, the [[roundabout:25(2015)]] was also constructed at the north end of [[settlement:186(2015)]] connecting with the [[road:40(2015)]]. In 2018 the stretch of road from the [[roundabout:39(2018)]] to the [[roundabout:36(2018)]] was widened from a two lane highway to a four lane highway with barriers in-between and frontage roads on both sides. And then from [[roundabout:36(2018)]] to Simeon Young Street the road was divided with a median and roundabouts constructed at Beverly Smith Lopez Street and at the North End Estate.https://amandala.com.bz/news/highway-engineers-hambug-belamabuttonwood-bay-residents/ ## Philip Goldson Highway and Remate Bypass Upgrading Project The Philip Goldson Highway and Remate Bypass Upgrading Project (PGHRBP) was funded in part with a grant from the United Kingdom Caribbean Infrastructure Partnership Fund (UKCIF), a loan from the Caribbean Development Bank and contribution from the Government of Belize. **Organization Funding** - UKCIF Bz$37.2M - CDB Bz$68.8M - GOB Bz$13.8M - **Total Bz$119.8M** Civil works generally entailed the resealing and widening as well as paving of the road shoulders for the entire portion of the Philip Goldson Highway from Mile 24.5 in [[settlement:22]] to the [[settlement:273]] Border and included the [[road:106]] for a total length of approximately 128km. Additional and new drainage structures were installed to improve climate resilience; road safety features included line marking, road studs, traffic signs, bus lay-bys, bus shelters and traffic calming measures in all villages. As road safety was a key component of the project, additional safety features in village locations only, included pedestrian/ bicycle paths, pedestrian crossings, and rumble strips. To improve safety as well, there was a realignment of the Mamayal curve, the [[settlement:144]] Junction and the Tumbaito curve near the intersection to [[settlement:51]]. Three new roundabouts were also constructed, one at [[settlement:76]] junction and one at either end of the [[road:106]]. The PGH project was also divided into 4 Lots: - Lot 1 Teichroeb & Sons Ltd. $21,518,209.62 - Lot 2 Cisco Construction Ltd. $26,012,154.74 - Lot 3 Cisco Construction Ltd. $23,539,347.38 - Lot 4 Teichroeb & Sons Ltd. $21,035,577.45 **Lot 1: Mile 24.5 – 52 and Miles 88 to Border (49.21km) ** Lot 1 included two sections of the PGH; Section A and Section D. Section A commenced at the existing culvert at approximately Mile 24.5 and terminated at the existing roundabout at the beginning of the [[road:40]] and Section D commenced from the Northern intersection of the [[road:106]] and terminated at the Border Post in [[settlement:273]]. Four variation orders (VO’s) were granted under the Lot 1 contract; the first VO was approved for a sum of BZD 4,075,052.00, for additional shoulder widening and paving of the section from the project start at mile 24.5 to [[settlement:43]]. This was to further enhance safety along that portion of road and to accommodate edge line markings as several sections of the road suffered severe edge breaks and raveling. The second variation was approved for additional drainage works following a weather disturbance that affected the country between 17th and 18th August 2022, which caused flooding of five sections of the Highway and two major culvert washouts. The additional works under this VO raised 5km section of the PGH, and installed additional drainage culverts throughout that section and was for a total amount of BZD 3,619,664.54. The third VO was approved for works that were not provided for under the original Bill of Quantities as well as to cover price adjustments for change in cost of materials for an amount of BZD 2,781,151.97. The fourth and final VO for an amount of BZD 511,475.63 was to cover price adjustments for change in cost of materials. The amended Contract amount for Lot 1 was $21,518,209.62. **Lot 2: Miles 52 – 75 (36.6km)** Lot 2 commences from the existing roundabout at the beginning of the [[road:40]] and terminates just before the proposed new roundabout forming the southern end of the [[road:106]]. One Variation Order was granted under Lot 2 contract to formalize the final contract price which resulted in a savings of BZD 1,067,147.48. The savings were as a result of (1) over-estimation of quantities in the original BoQ and (2) value engineering in the decision to change from cement stabilized marl base to a granular base. The savings generated from Lot 2 are proposed to be used to supplement the increase in the final contract price for Lot 3 resulting from price increases in construction materials. The final contract sum for Lot 2 is BZD $26,012,154.74. **Lot 3: Remate Bypass (18.5km)** See [[road:106]] for further info on this section **Lot 4: Mile 75 to 88 (23.59km)** Lot 4 includes two sections of the PGH: Sections E1 and E2. Section E1 commences at the southern end of the [[road:106]] and terminates at the existing roundabout at the southern end of the existing dual carriageway boulevard in [[settlement:64]]. Section E2 commences from the Northern end of the [[road:106]] and terminates at the start of the existing dual carriageway boulevard in [[settlement:64]]. Two Variation Orders were granted under Lot 4 contract for (VO 1) works that were not provided for under the original Bill of Quantities and (VO 2) to cover price adjustments for change in cost of materials; the amount of which was more than the contingency amount provided for under the contract. VO#1 was for a total amount of BZD 1,103,498.63 and VO2 was BZD 540,421.10 bringing the new contract sum for Lot 4 to BZD $21,035,577.45. On February 1, 2024 the new [[bridge:22(2021)]] was opened to the public, replacing the old narrow steel truss bridge. On the north end of the bridge a roundabout was constructed.https://www.pressoffice.gov.bz/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Min-of-Infrastructure-Dev-Housing-ATR-2023-2024.pdf On February 3, 2025 a rehabilitation project was started, repaving and upgrading the highway from mile 8 to mile 24.5 in [[settlement:265(2025)]].https://www.greaterbelize.com/road-works-on-philip-goldson-highway-set-to-begin-february-3/ The plan is to build 4 roundabouts at the [[road:49(2025)]] Jct, Lord's Bank Road Jct, Burrell Boom Jct, and [[road:77(2025)]] Jct. ## Etymology By 1959 the highway was already referred to as the Northern Highway.https://ufdcimages.uflib.ufl.edu/AA/00/05/43/44/00001/AA00054344_00001.pdf