First Leg Of Caldera Highway
To Be Ready in Two Weeks
The traffic jams on the autopista Próspero Fernández between La
Sabana and Santa Ana due to construction through the areas may soon
be over. Or at least partially, as the the La Sabana and Escazú
section of the "vía a Caldera" will be ready in two weeks.
The Ministerio de Obras Públicas y Transportes (MOPT) is optomistic
that the two week schedule will be met, as the paving from the
Gimnasio Nacional in La Sabana to the Trejos Montealegre
intersection in Escazú has commenced.
However, it does not mean the completion of the project when the
highway will be six lanes from La Sabana to Santa Ana and then four
lanes to Caldera, Puntarenas.
For the time being and to alleviate congestion, the MOPT has decided
to open four lanes from La Sabana to Escazú, especially helpful
during rush hour when when a 10 minute trip between La Sabana and
Escazú can take almost an hour or more. In either direction.
The portion between La Sabana and Mutliplaza and Santa Ana should be
fully completed by May, say MOPT officials, at which time the toll
booths will also be operating.
MOPT minister Karla González, explained that the work between La
Sabana and Escazú has been hard as the original highway was built of
concrete and required the process of "rubbirizing" for it to be
paved with asphalt. González added that the new road is being built
of recycled material, using 100% of the old material for the new.
The MOPT is also incorporating into the new road overhead passes for
pedestrians to cross the highway and bus bays. The pedestrian
overpasses are being planned for the area of the Contraloría General
de la República and Multiplaza, and bus bays along the route,
especially necessary at the Santa Ana and Rio Oro intersections.
People dashing across heavy traffic of the now four lane highway has
been a problem for drivers, worse when it is expanded to six lanes.
Thus the MOPT says it will be adding security provisions.
The major stumbling block to the widening of the highway has been
the expansion of the Tiribí river bridge. Construction on the bridge
is moving at a good rhythm, say MOPT officials and is expected to be
finished for the May deadlines.
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