Beetham Highway
Route information
Length4.8 km (3.0 mi)
Existed1956–present
Major junctions
West endDowntown Port of Spain
East endBarataria
Location
CountryTrinidad and Tobago
Major citiesPort of Spain
Highway system

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.

RegionLocationKmMileExitDestinationsNotes
Port of Spain0.00.0Wrightson Road
 – Port of Spain General Hospital
Western terminus; Continuation from Port of Spain
0.10.0621BroadwayTraffic Lights
0.40.252Pioneer DriveWestbound access only
San Juan–LaventillePort of Spain0.60.373Production Drive, Abattoir RoadTraffic Lights
1.30.814Saint Joseph RoadWestbound exit and eastbound entrance
3.11.95Beetham LandfillWestbound access only
San Juan4.83.0Churchill 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

10°38′41″N 61°29′22″W / 10.64468°N 61.48958°W / 10.64468; -61.48958

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

  1. "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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