The Swing Bridge over Haulover Creek is the symbolic centre of Belize City — the only manually operated swing bridge still in daily use in the Americas. It is swung open twice a day (at 5:30 am and 5:30 pm) to allow boat traffic through. Standing on the bridge gives a good view of the city's two halves and the waterfront life below.
The bridge divides Belize City into its Northside and Southside, a distinction that carries significant social meaning: the Fort George area to the north is where the better hotels and restaurants cluster, while the Southside is a poorer district where tourists are advised not to wander alone at night.
story: > The Swing Bridge was built in Liverpool in 1922 by the Lobnitz Company and shipped to Belize. It has been manually swung by four operators using long poles — the same mechanical process used since installation — twice daily for over a century. It is listed as a monument of national significance.