Beetham Highway Explained

Country:TTO
Type:H
Route:Beetham
Length Km:4.8
Direction A:West
Direction B:East
Terminus A:Downtown Port of Spain
Cities:Port of Spain
Terminus B:Barataria
Established:1956

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.

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.

10.6447°N -61.4896°W

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]

References

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Fear and chaos as Beetham highway, Sealots, PBR blocked in protest . 2022-07-27 . Trinidad Express Newspapers . en.