Guatemala’s US$220mn Belize II bridge faces more obstacles

Problems related to rights-of-way add to the woes of Guatemala’s US$220mn Belize II bridge.

Rights-of-way for the land the bridge will be built on have been granted to Ferrocarriles de Guatemala (Fegua) for freight transportation, but the company and communications, infrastructure and housing ministry CIV have not reached an agreement yet.

The issue is causing new delays, daily Prensa Libre reported. Works were planned to start months ago.

“[CIV] has to negotiate first with Fegua because there is an unused rail bridge which would possibly have to be removed and, secondly, with landowners whose property is needed to build the piles,” Marvin Flores, an analyst at transparency NGO Acción Ciudadana, told BNamericas.

Fegua proposes to redesign the vehicular bridge and allow it to support freight trains. But this option would change the project with implications for already awarded construction and supervision contracts.

“Fegua had requested that railways for freight transportation be included because it only includes MetroRiel rails, which are for passenger transportation,” said Flores.

Another option could involve changing the shape of the bridge to a curve, so it would not cross Fegua property. But this option would require new negotiations with 11 landowners.

The delays are raising concerns at Grupo Muratori, which won the construction contract and should get 10% of the approved budget, but hasn’t seen any funds.

Company representatives quoted by Prensa Libre said an immediate start of works could lead to losses due to these delays. Machinery and workers have arrived at the construction camp in Metronorte.  

The group won the contract in October 2022 and must finish the bridge by 2027. It involves a Warren-type bridge alongside the Belize bridge as an alternative to enter and exit Guatemala City using the CA09 Norte highway.

Other works include new viaducts and complementary infrastructure. The bridge will connect zones 1, 2 and 6 of the capital with zones 18 and 17, as well as reorganizing the city's road network and improving transit.

The supervision contract was awarded to D&D Ramírez Hernández in October last year, but canceled after NGOs complained about the lack of the company’s experience. After a new tender, the contract was awarded to Constructora San Juan in June.

Photo credit: CIV