HalcrowGroup Ltd NorthernHighway Corridor Study EnvironmentalImpact Assessment (FinalReport) Public Disclosure Authorized August2001 E501 Public Disclosure Authorized Ministryof Worksand Transport Governmentof Belize Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized FILECOPY Halcrow Group Ltd Northern Highway Corridor Study EnvironmentalImpact Assessment (Final Report) August 2001 Ministry of Works and Transport Governmentof Belize Contents ExecutiveSummary i I Introduction 1 1.1 Backgroundto theProject 1 1.2 ProposedProject 1 1.3 EnvironmentalImpact Assessment 2 2 EnvironmentalLegislation Framework 5 2.1 PoliticalandAdministrative Framewvork 5 2.2 ThePlanning System and Related Legislation 6 2.3 EnvironmentalLe,gislation 7 2.4 InternationalTreaties and Conventions 14 3 StudyArea 15 3.1 Locationand Setting 15 3.2 Climate 15 3.3 Hydrologyand WaterQualiy 17 3.4 Trafficand Pedestrian Safety 21 3.5 Land Useand Services 25 3.6 Geologyand Soils 27 3.7 Topographyand Landscape 28 3.8 Archaeologyand culturalheritage 28 3.9 Ecologyand Nature Conservation 28 3.10 Water-RelatedDiseases 30 3.11 EnvironmentalQualiy 31 3.12 The Coastlineand Marine Processes 32 3.13 Socio-economicConditions 33 4 ProposedProject 34 4.1 Introduction 34 4.2 HighwayDesign Criteria 35 4.3 Componentsof theScheme 37 4.4 Construction 41 4.5 Post Construction 43 5 Approachto the EIA 44 5.1 Introdciction 44 5.2 Programme 44 6 PotentialEnvironmental Effects 46 6.1 Introduction 46 6.2 ScopingPotential Environmental effects 46 6.3 Hydrologyand WaterQualiy 48 6.4 Trafficand PedestrianSafe{y 49 6.5 Land Use and Services 50 6.6 Geologyand Soils 50 6.7 Topography and Landscape 51 6.8 Archaeologyand Cultural Heritage 52 6.9 Ecologyand Nature Conservation 52 6.10 EnvironmentalQualiy 53 6.11 The Coastlineand Marine Processes 54 6.12 Socio-economicConditions 54 6.13 Do-nothing 59 7 Consultations 61 7.1 Consultationwith Governmentand Non-GovernmentOrganisations 61 7.2 Future PublicConsultation 64 8 EnvironmentalManagement Plan 65 8.1 Introduction 65 8.2 Kgy Issues 66 8.3 Ecologyand Biodiversi!y 66 8.4 Requirementsof the EMP 68 8.5 InstitutionalResponsibiliy for Implementation 68 9 Conclusionsand Recommendations 70 9.1 Introduction 70 9.2 Potentialimpacts 70 Bibliography 71 Appendices A Terms of Reference and Methodology for the EIA Study B EIA Regulations, 1995 C Press Cutting Concerning the GOB Proposed Dredging Project D Contractual Clauses E Consultation Document F Ecological Data from Surveys G Porject timeline List of Figures 1 Location Map with flood routes 2 Land Use and Ecosystem within the study area 3 Ecosystem of Belize City Area 4 Road layout with Junction Arrangements 5 Representation of typical Cross section phase 2 6 Representation of typical Cross section phase 3 List of Plates Picture 1. Drainage entrance at Belize Ri ver near site 1. Picture 2. Drainage entrance at Belize Ri ver near site 1 (see figure 2). Yellow markers indicate BWS potable water supply Picture 3. Typical drainage ditch as now existing. Picture 4. Typical drainage ditch as now existing. Vegetation consisting mostly of Eleocharissp. Picture 5. Existing drain # 5. Picture 6. Location for new drain # 6. Picture'7. Existing drainage along drain # 10. Picture 8. Bella Vista linkage # 9. Only private lot that needs to be traversed for estabhlishingdrainage. Figure 9. Private shore line extention in order to gain larger lot size Picture 10. 66 ft Mangrove border along Haulover Creek in Belama Extension II. Picture 11. Mangroves along Haulover Creek Picture 12. Mangroves along Haulover Creek Picture 13. Approach to BBB, as in Status report Picture 14. Ground conditions housing subside Picture 15. Haulover bridge from status report Abbreviations AADT Average Annual Daily Traffic BBB Buttonwood Bay Boulevard BCIP Belize City Infrastructure Project BUIP Belize Urban Infrastructure Project BWS Belize Water Services Cm Centimetre CZMA Coastal Zone Management Authority DoA Department of Archaeology DoE Department of Environment EIA Environmental Impact Assessment EMP Environmental Management Plan ESTAP Environmental Social Technical Assistance Project GoB Government of Belize HGV Heavy Goods Vehicle IAGS Inches above what IDB Inter-American Development Bank LUA Land Utilisation Authority Masl metres above sea level MoW Mfinistry of Works NEAC National Environmental Appraisal Committee NEMO National Emergency Management Organization NGO Non-government organisation NHS National Hydrology Service Pa per annum PHB Public Health Bureau PHI Public Health Inspector SDA Special Development Area SI Statutory Instrument ToR Terms of Reference UNDP United Nations Development Project ExecutiveSummary Introduction In October 2000 Hurricane Keith caused substantial damage to the Northern Highway between Buttonwood Bay Boulevard and Haulover Bridge (see Figure 1) and has subsequently been repaired and resurfaced by the Ministry of Works (MoW). The heavy rainfall and consequent flooding following Hurricane Keith caused damage and erosion to the road surface. The flooding had caused loss of material from under the road, which resulted in complete failure of the surface in many places. Furthermore, the capacity of the pipe culverts across the highway was exceeded in the Keith storm event, leading to extensive cross flooding of the carriageway. Construction of the Northern Highway up to Haulover Bridge upgrade on the present alignment was carried out in the early 1990s. Haulover Bridge was built during the 1960s when the current highway replaced a lesser standard road which led to a ferry crossing of Haulover Creek. The paved road width is approximately 7m with shoulders, giving an overall width of between 9m to 10m. This stretch of road is the most heavily trafficked road in Belize and as the main access into the city from the international airport and all routes north, is the first impression that tourists gain of Belize City. The road is also a main escape route from the Belize City area in the event of a hurricane. Proposed Project The Government of Belize (GOB) wishes to rehabilitate the standards of the Northern Highway in Belize City to at least its condition, pre Hurricane Keith, using funding from the World Bank (IRDB). Improvements will also be made to the stormwater drainage, outfalls and the carriageway levels, to prevent future flooding. GOB has commissioned Halcrow Group Ltd (Halcrow) to design the improvement works and conduct an Environmental Impact Assessment. Doc No 19 Rev. 0 Date AuQust2001 C \DOCUME-1\wb1 50670\LOCALS-1\Temp\-7517147.doc Along its length many side accesses have been constructed to access both private property and subdivisions. Some of these subdivisions have used canals for drainage and as an amenity to the properties, for boat access from either the river or the sea. These canals can be used as outfall drains, however, unfortunately they were not planned in a structured manner and drainage corridors were not provided or maintained, this makes locating drainage outfalls both expensive and difficult. The existing road is constructed over low lying ground that is subject to settlement under loading and is built across a natural flood route between the Haulover Creek and the sea. The land either side of the road is becoming densely populated with residential and commercial properties and land clearance continues. The first section of road (Phase 1) from the city to Buttonwood Bay Boulevard (BBB) has been improved to a two lane highway with central median, cycleways, sidewalks and good drainage. This has proved to be successful in reducing flooding, improving traffic flows, reducing accidents and enhancing living conditions. The proposed improvements are scheduled in a further two phases, Phase 2 from BBB to near the Biltmore Hotel, comprising a similar design as the Phase 1, whilst Phase 3 (Biltmore Hotel to Haulover Bridge) will consist of one lane each way with a central overtaking/turning lane (see section 4). The over-riding objective of the highway improvement is to ensure that the road pavement is above flood level and that both side and cross drainage will cope with the design storm event. Environmental Impact Assessment As part of the project design an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) was conducted, which was based on the requirements set out in the Belize Environment Impact Assessment Regulations, 1995, the World Bank environmental guidelines given in the Environmental Assessment Sourcebook 1991, and the consultant's best practice approach to EIAs. This document sets out the methodology, findings and recommendations from the EIA. The EIA was undertaken as the project is located near to areas of mangrove and is therefore potentially environmentally sensitive, in accordance with the Belize EIA regulations. Doc No 19 Rev: 0 Date: August 2001 C:DOCUME-1\wb1 50670\LOCALS-1\Temp\-7517147.doc During the period from the middle of May to July 2001, the EIA study team consulted with a number of statutory and non-statutory organisations, to obtain environmental data and invite comments on the proposed project. In addition, local residents and owners of commercial properties possibly affected by the proposed project were consulted. The findings from these consultations were taken into consideration during the EIA and were fed into the project design. Prior to finalisation of the EIA, information on its findings will be presented to the consultees and the general public through a display located in a public area, at which additional comments will be invited. Existing Environment