The George Price Highway is one of four main
highway
A highway is any public or private road or other public way on land. It is used for major roads, but also includes other public roads and public tracks. In some areas of the United States, it is used as an equivalent term to controlled-access ...
s in
Belize
Belize (; bzj, Bileez) is a Caribbean and Central American country on the northeastern coast of Central America. It is bordered by Mexico to the north, the Caribbean Sea to the east, and Guatemala to the west and south. It also shares a wa ...
. It originates in
Belize City
Belize City is the largest city in Belize and was once the capital of the former British Honduras. According to the 2010 census, Belize City has a population of 57,169 people in 16,162 households. It is at the mouth of the Haulover Creek, wh ...
, runs west through
Hattieville, the
Belize Zoo
The Belize Zoo and Tropical Education Center is a zoo in Belize, located some west of Belize City on the Western Highway. Set in , the zoo was founded in 1983 by Sharon Matola. It is home to more than 175 animals of about 48 species, all native t ...
, the capital city of
Belmopan
Belmopan () is the capital city of Belize. Its population in 2010 was 16,451. In addition to being the smallest capital city in the continental Americas by population, Belmopan is the third-largest settlement in Belize, behind Belize City and S ...
(northern outskirts),
San Ignacio, San José Succotz (across the river from
Xunantunich
Xunantunich () is an Ancient Maya archaeological site in western Belize, about 70 miles (110 km) west of Belize City, in the Cayo District. Xunantunich is located atop a ridge above the Mopan River, well within sight of the Guatemala bord ...
archaeological site) and terminates at the
Guatemala
Guatemala ( ; ), officially the Republic of Guatemala ( es, República de Guatemala, links=no), is a country in Central America. It is bordered to the north and west by Mexico; to the northeast by Belize and the Caribbean; to the east by Hon ...
n border at
Benque Viejo
Benque Viejo del Carmen ("Benque") is the westernmost town in Belize, by road west and south of Belize City, at the Guatemalan border. San Ignacio lies 13 km to the east and Melchor de Mencos just across the border. The Mopan River runs al ...
. The highway bisects the country and ties the eastern and western parts of Belize together. A new steel bridge over Beaver Dam Creek was constructed to replace the broken concrete one.
The highway was built in the 1930s and was originally known as the Western Highway. It was renamed the
George Price Highway in 2012, after the late former prime minister who led the country to independence in 1981.
History
2003, September 20. The Beaver Dam Creek Bridge was reconstructed as a new steel bridge to replace the old broken concrete bridg
2012, September 20. The Western Highway was renamed the George Price Highway in honour of George Pric
2016, July. A new roundabout was constructed at the junction of the George Price Highway and the Hummingbird Highway.
2020, March 20. The Roaring Creek Bridge was reconstructed due to the old bridge being too narrow and getting congested.
Junction list
References
Roads in Belize
{{Belize-stub