San José - Caldera
Highway One Step Closer
to Reality
The long awaited road to
Caldera may soon be a
reality, following an
agreement between the
Ministerio de Obras
Públicas y Transportes (MOPT)
and the contractor,
Autopistas del Sol,
where the MOPT has
agreed to pay the
additional us$72 million
dollars for the
completion of the road.
According to MOPT
minister, Karla González,
the original contract
signed six years ago was
for us$158 million
dollars and the
additional payment is to
cover the difference of
the us$230 million
dollars that it will
cost to today to
complete the 75
kilometre stretch of
road.
The minister explained
that the high costs is
due to accumulated
inflation and the rise
in cost of certain
construction materials,
like steel and asphalt.
In addition, the revised
contracts adds new
components, mainly
security items like
added illumination and
signalization, as well
as better design of
gullies, drainage and
better pavement, that
was not part of the
original contract.
The MOPT also agreed to
extend the completion
term of the project from
the original 24 months
of start of construction
to 30 months.
The MOPT agreed to the
added costs and changes
mainly based on a study
by the Banco
Centroamericano de
Intregación Economica (BCIE)
and the Caja de Madrid -
the financiers for the
project - that called
for the additional items
and costs.
The "addendum" as the
changes are known have
been signed by both
parties and sent to the
Contraloría General de
la República
(Comptroller's office)
for approval, which is
expected in the next 30
days.
Once the changes have
been approved by the
Contraloría,
construction will start
immediately, according
to González, who added
that the contractor is
committed to starting
the project as soon as
the approval is
obtained.
The San José - Caldera
highway has been in the
planning, design and
construction stage for
some 30 years, with work
starting and stopping
over the last several
years.
The road is important
because it would greatly
reduce travel time
between San José and the
Pacific coast from the
current 2 hours to some
45 minutes, and reduce
travel time to tourist
hotspots like Playa Jacó
and Quepos/Manuel
Antonio.
The road will also
reduce traffic on the
Interamericana highway
and the dangerous route
that passes through El
Monte Aguacate, as it
takes traffic from San
José via Santa Ana and
Cuidad Colon.
|
|
