WRITTEN by JOHN MORRIS
Roatan’s roads are not what they used to be
Last year we had to replace four ball joints on our Toyota Land Cruiser Prado. If you do not know what a ball joint is, you are lucky because they are not cheap… but quite necessary for driving and especially steering a vehicle.
Toyotas are known for their reliability so this need to replace is unusual unless you know what our roads used to be like. Imagine WW2 England after a bombing raid and you are getting close.
But if you want to attract tourists… bottom line is… you must have infrastructure.
For years Roatan has been crawling forward. Internet has gotten stronger and more reliable, plus prices have come down, thanks to competition. Product selection has increased in our North American-style grocery stores… but the roads seriously lagged behind.
Ten years ago when it was proposed to pave the famous West End road, uproar ensued claiming the quaint village would forever lose its charm.
During a norther’ (kind of like a northeaster but with no snow), cars would literally be washed to sea. Trying to navigate the road during rainy season was like a Jeep Rubicon obstacle course.
Then finally, one day the new concrete road opened. At the ribbon-cutting ceremony, the road was filled with mothers pushing strollers and young kids zipping around on their bicycles. All protests were quickly forgotten.
In the following years, we watched the main road – carretera principal – die a slow death. Potholes outnumbered pavement, sometimes so deep the island’s only Smart Car would almost disappear trying to pass.
What was always a joke, now became an embarrassment. Tourists refused to return, choosing destinations a bit more attentive to this necessary part of infrastructure.
In January 2018, our savior arrived. Newly-elected Mayor Jerry Hynds won the election with two main promises: dealing with the out of control land fill and fixing the roads.
Promises from a politician are like… well you finish the sentence.
But guess what? It’s now August and we have brand-new concrete roads… not only to West Bay from West End and Flowers Bay… also east from French Harbor to the municipality of Santos Guardiola… and from Mud Hole to Palmetto Bay.
The best thing is they are not done with the road work yet!
And speaking of the Mud Hole Road, the dump is being covered and relocated thanks to a joint cooperation with the mayor and our Texas-owned electric company, RECO.
Perhaps it’s time to change the name of that road… maybe to Caribbean Scenic Drive?
It is truly a pleasure to drive if you are heading east towards French Harbor, especially since there is a new microbrewery (just beyond the turn off for Brick Bay), shining like a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow.
While we might be a small island facing many challenges, things are moving faster than I have ever seen.
Funny how new roads affect people’s pride of ownership. Land is being cleaned… houses are showing off a fresh coat of paint… and new businesses are sprouting up… from shiny new gas stations to roadside palapas selling fresh produce.
I thank you, Jerry and my Toyota thanks you. Big Mike’s Autocare won’t see me as much but that’s okay, I still need to change my oil!
You can’t stop progress, right? Let’s hope that we never fall that far behind the Joneses again.
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