San Sebastian Rotonda Changed While Bridge Construction Advances
The more than 70.000 drivers who cross the "San Sebastian" rotonda will be in for a surprise beginning today as the rotonda (round about) becomes an oval, as transport authorities make changes preparing for the construction of the bridge to the intersection.

Karla González, ministra de Obras Públicas y Transportes (MOPT), explained that excavation of the tunnel and erection of bridges will take about seven months and traffic has to rerouted around the construction site.

The minister said that the partial closures around the rotunda will ensure construction workers safety and that Tránsito (traffic) officials will be posted that traffic around the intersection does not paralyze.

The MOPT expects to have the bridge structure in place within five months and have traffic moving over the bridge within a couple of months after.

The permanent changes will mean that east-west traffic will flow over the bridge while the north-south traffic will move around the rotonda underneath, similar to the bridge at the Desamparados-Ygriega bridge/rotonda.

Tránsito officials hope to see a smooth transition as drivers get used to the temporary movement around the intersection, with the hopes that drivers will use caution and patience during the construction period. Speed bumps will be located before the intersection to slow down drivers.

The cost of the construction is us$3.5 million dollars and if everything goes to plan, the work will be completely finished by October.