Beetham Highway
The Beetham Highway is a major highway in Trinidad and Tobago. It runs from downtown Port of Spain where it meets Wrightson Road to Barataria (where it connects with the Churchill-Roosevelt Highway). It was constructed between 1955 and 1956.
| Beetham Highway | |
|---|---|
| Route information | |
| Length | 4.8 km (3.0 mi) |
| Existed | 1956–present |
| Major junctions | |
| West end | Downtown Port of Spain |
| East end | Barataria |
| Location | |
| Country | Trinidad and Tobago |
| Major cities | Port of Spain |
| Highway system | |
The highway was named for former Governor Sir Edward Betham Beetham. In January 2009, world boxing champion Giselle Salandy died after a car crash at Beetham Highway.
Description
Route
The highway is fairly short, running for only 4.8 km from Barataria to Port of Spain. The highway runs alongside Beetham Gardens, an economically depressed area that is the source of many incidents on the highway. It is bounded to the south by the Caroni Swamp and Beetham Landfill.
Features
The Beetham Highway is a six lane freeway with 2 notable grade separated interchanges at Barataria and St. Joseph Road, the latter of which serves as a direct connection to Independence Square. The other two intersections on the highway are at Central Market and Broadway.
Exit List
The following table lists the major junctions along the Beetham Highway. The entire route is located in Trinidad.
| Region | Location | Km | Mile | Exit | Destinations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Port of Spain | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | Wrightson Road – Port of Spain General Hospital | Western terminus; Continuation from Port of Spain | |
| 0.1 | 0.062 | 1 | Broadway | Traffic Lights | ||
| 0.4 | 0.25 | 2 | Pioneer Drive | Westbound access only | ||
| San Juan–Laventille | Port of Spain | 0.6 | 0.37 | 3 | Production Drive, Abattoir Road | Traffic Lights |
| 1.3 | 0.81 | 4 | Saint Joseph Road | Westbound exit and eastbound entrance | ||
| 3.1 | 1.9 | 5 | Beetham Landfill | Westbound access only | ||
| San Juan | 4.8 | 3.0 | — | Churchill Roosevelt Highway – Tunapuna, Arima, Sangre Grande – Piarco International Airport | Eastern Terminus; freeway continues east into San Juan–Laventille as the Churchill Roosevelt Highway | |
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi
| ||||||
Incidents
On 4 July 2022, a large blockage occurred on the highway due to protests against a police related shooting that resulted in the deaths of three residents. The Eastern Main Road, Priority Bus Route and Lady Young Road were blocked concurrently.[1]
Description
References
- "Fear and chaos as Beetham highway, Sealots, PBR blocked in protest". Trinidad Express Newspapers. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
- Anthony, Michael (2001). Historical Dictionary of Trinidad and Tobago. Scarecrow Press, Inc. Lanham, Md., and London. ISBN 0-8108-3173-2.
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| Trunk Roads & Minor Highways |
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