Toll Booths Have Become
a Nightmare For Drivers
The four tool booths
around the country have
become a real headache
for drivers as they
continually cause
traffic congestion.
The Consejo Nacional de
Vialidad (CONAVI) says
the average congestion
at the tool booths is
now 100 metres, as
drivers burn gasoline
and wear nerves thin,
having no choice but to
wait their turn to pay
the ¢75 colones toll.
No refief is offered at
the express toll lane
where drivers pay the
additional ¢25 colones,
for a total of ¢100
colones, for the right
to get through faster.
The situation is so bad
at the toll booth on the
General Cañas, east of
the airport, that the
vehicles back to the
Cerverceria at times, a
little more than a
kilometre, forcing tool
booth officials to open
the lanes to free pass
to ease congestion.
The situation is no
different on the
Prospero Fernando, west
of the Hipermás, where
traffic comes to
complete stop as the
four toll booths clog up
with busy traffic. At
this toll booth,
operators now use green
flags to wave traffic
through to ease
congestion.
The CONAVI numbers show
that 200 vehicles pass
the toll station every
ten minutes or 1.200
vehicles per hour.
The CONAVI has now
installed changeable
signs at the toll booth
stations to keep drivers
informed. The signs
presently include a
message about
responsible and safe
driving. One message
that aims to raise the
consciousness of drivers
reads "Costa Rica ama la
paz, pero teine una
guerra en sus carreteras"(
Costa Rica loves peace,
but has a war on its
roads).
During rush hours, the
toll booths are free of
charge. Although the
hours may vary slightly
at the different toll
booths, generally there
is no charge between
5:00pm and 7:00pm from
Monday to Friday. |
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