AmbergrisCaye.com Home Forums The Cayes Ambergris Caye Bridge Dedicated to the Late Sir Barry Bowen

The Boca del Rio Bridge that links San Pedro Town to North Ambergris Caye was completed in 2006 by the San Pedro Town Council, much in part with the assistance of Sir Barry Bowen who provided the financing for the bridge.

On Township Day, 2011 the San Pedro Town Council officially renamed the Boca del Rio Bridge the 'Sir Barry Bowen Bridge' in honor of the late Sir Barry and all the wonderful things that he did for Belize and San Pedro.

"Sir Barry's love for San Pedro was unequalled," stated Lady Dixie Bowen as guest speaker at the Township celebrations. "He could not wait to come home every evening after a hard day's work in the City. He was always available to help the island and its residents in any way. If he were here today he would be beaming with joy."

Click here to read the rest of the article and see more photos in the Ambergris Today, including the text of the speech by Lady Dixie Bowen on the Renaming of Boca del Rio Bridge to Sir Barry Bowen Bridge on Township Day 2011.

Boca Del Rio Now Sir Barry Bridge

Almost two years after the tragic death of Bottling Magnate and Philanthropist, Sir Barry Bowen, the island he called home honored his legacy with the naming of a bridge. The Boca del Rio Bridge which was completed in 2006 and links San Pedro Town to North Ambergris Caye was built with major funding provided by Bowen. In ceremonies last weekend celebrating the island's 27 years of township, the bridge was officially renamed the 'Sir Barry Bowen Bridge'.

Sir Barry died in a plane crash on February 26th of 2010 on the island of San Pedro along with three other passengers on board his privately owned Cessna.

The exact cause of the accident has still not been released.

Channel 7

Presenting the Barry Bowen Bridge

The recently renamed bridge is in need of urgent repairs

The Boca del Rio Bridge was renamed to the Sir Barry Bowen Bridge. Without the distinction of a plaque or monument displaying the new name, the bridge was renamed during a ceremony on Sunday, November 27th, at the inauguration of Laguna Drive. The bridge was designed by the late Sir Barry Bowen who also secured finances for the project through an interest-free loan to the San Pedro Town Council.

Speaking at the event Lady Dixie Bowen, widow of Sir Bowen, explained that Barry was attracted to the architecture of bridges and in his life he collaborated in the construction of 13 bridges. She said that the last bridge Sir Barry built was the one renamed in his honor on Sunday. "Barry would have been proud and honored," said Lady Bowen adding that, "even more so since San Pedro was dear to him." And indeed, the bridge was appropriately named after a great Belizean that contributed a lot to the growth of the island, and to greater extent, the country.

Click here for the rest of the story and more pictures in the San Pedro Sun!

Meanwhile the bridge tolls are enriching some local people and the bridge is slowly decaying into the sea.

They probably didn't mount a plaque as there's little solid structure left to attach it to.

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Maybe I'm wrong, but normally you repair a bridge before you rename it. Then on the opening and renaming ceremony you have a structural sound and nice bridge.

The Dedicated Bridge to the Late Sir Barry Bowen Bride is a great idea, but he deserves a renovated and repaired bridge.