Avenida 4
Pedestrian Boulevard
Nears Completion
Notwithstanding the
delays in the
development of the
pedestrian boulevard
along Avenida 4 on the
south side of the
downtown core, the Municipalidad de San
José, will inaugurate
the first stage of the
project before the end
of September.
By that time the first
six blocks of the
boulevard are expected
to be complete and ready
for pedestrian traffic,
according to Marco
Vinicio Corrales,
manager of Servicios
Municipales.
The boulevard will also
include traffic lights
at various
intersections, an
addition that was
contemplated in the
original design.
"The Municipalidad is
investing some ¢15
million colones extra
for the pedestrian
traffic lights to allow
pedestrians to cross the
cross streets safely,
which are tied in to the
new MOPT traffic light
system that will be
fully operations in
October", said Corrales.
Construction on the
pedestrian boulevard
along Avenida 4 has been
delayed by some
unforseen problems, like
the dealing the tunnel
between the Catedral
Metropolitna and the
church offices across
the street and then the
problems with the water
mains and valves, where
the plans had to be
modified to accommodate
a series of changes by
the Acueductos y
Alcantarillados (AyA).
Another challenge by
workers was having to
deal with a concrete
slab buried about 3 feet
under the roadway.
The total cost of the
boulevard that runs from
the steps of the Iglesia
de La Soledad on the
east side to Calle
14 on the west side is
¢381 million colones
(us$740.000) and
according to Corrales,
notwithstanding the
setbacks, the project is
within budget, as the
municipality has
earmarked some ¢57
million colones for
unexpected problems.
The pedestrian boulevard
will completely
eliminate vehicular
traffic along Avenida 4,
that runs parallel to
the boulevard on Avenida
Central.
One of the biggest
challenges still facing
the project is the
relocation of 8 bus
stops that are in
current use, a move that
is being carried out by
the Ministerio de Obras
Públicas y Transportes (MOPT). |
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