History

The Chiquibul Road was constructed by the Forest Department in 1954 at a cost of $1,500.00 per mile and completed by 1959.^[1]

In the 2013 Ministry of Works file the road is named Caracol Road and starts at the Tripartite Junction close to El Progresso and ends at Caracol Archaeological Reserve.^[2]

The Caracol Road Upgrading Project was funded by the Government of Belize and the OPEC Fund for International Development, through a US $40 million loan. Works commenced in February 2020.

Phase 1 is approximately 34.7 km (21.5 miles) and divided into three lots. The project included the construction of earthen embankments, crushed gravel pavements, and two (3.65m) lanes with (1 m) shoulders with a double bituminous chip-seal wearing course. The road drainage scheme was also upgraded through the replacement of undersized culverts and the upgrading in some cases to reinforced concrete box structures. The road segment was completed with modern ancillary road safety features, including high visibility road signs, edge markers, lane markings, and safety rails.

Lot 1A - (Georgeville – Tripartite / Santa Elena – Cristo Rey / San Antonio – Tripartite)

Lot 1A was 26 km in length, from the George Price Highway / Georgeville intersection to the Tripartite Intersection and from the intersection with George Price Highway in Santa Elena Town to the Tripartite Intersection. The project duration was 30 months, reflecting completion in August 2022 at a contract price of Bz$37,988,176.55.

Lot 1B (Tripartite Intersection - Blancaneaux Lodge Line)

Lot 1B was 8.8km in length, was completed as of the end of November 2021. The defects correction period closed November 2022. The final contract value was Bz$14,898,164.44.

Lot 1C (Blancaneaux Lodge Line – Pinol Line)

Lot 1C was 7.25 km in length, through the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve. The road section was modified slightly to 3.35m lanes and 0.5m shoulders; this was done prior to contract award to Belize Roadway Construction Ltd., on 21 May 2021, as a cost savings exercise. Three new bridges were constructed within the road segment. The bridges being...

• Privassion Bridge (24m)
• Oak Burn Bridge (35m)
• Pinol Creek Bridge (90.65m)

The project commenced on 2 August 2021 with a contract period of 18 months, reflecting completion on 2 February 2023. An extension of time was given to 2 July 2023, due to excavation in rock, which was unforeseen and the effects of several severe weather events. At the end of February 2023, the entire section was at the level of first coat chip seal. At that time the bridges at Privassion Creek and Oak Burn were completed with the concreting of the triple span Pinol Creek Bridge deck the remaining activity for the construction of bridges.

Lot 1C, and by extension, Phase 1 of the Caracol Road Upgrading Project was completed by mid-June at an approximate cost of Bz$16,402,152.12^[3]

The Caracol Road Upgrading Project – Phase 2 covers the distance from Pinol Line to the Caracol Archaeological Site, a distance of 42.9km (26.2 miles), which passes through Douglas da Silva camp. Phase 2 is divided into three lots. Lot 2A (23.7km) from Pinol Line to Guacamallo Bridge. Lot 2B the construction of Guacamallo Bridge and Lot 2C (18.7km) from Guacamallo Bridge to Caracol Archaeological Site.

Construction contracts were signed with CISCO Construction in April 2022. The main construction camp was set up at Douglas da Silva camp. Road setting out and clearing was ongoing in 2024.

Progress was slow and the contractor fell 4 months behind schedule. The MIDH wrote to the contractor and held meetings with the supervision team to instruct that every measure be taken to get the works back on program. The contractor’s construction management team was re-organized in response to the Ministry’s intervention; improvements in production was noticed almost immediately. Despite a comprehensive review, the project’s rate of progress suffered real and difficult-to-overcome setbacks. These included: the isolated location, difficult and wet terrain, limitations in working in nature reserves, shortage of human resources, countrywide shortage of dynamite, and bitumen and a proliferation of natural underground springs.^[3][4]

The Chiquibul Road was completely paved by January 2026.^[5]