Colombian company proposes new road to Limon

In Costa Rica, we all know about the existing problems of traveling to Limon. On the one hand, the old road, which passes through Turrialba has an old design where there is only one lane each way in some parts and that makes traffic very slow. On the other hand, the Braulio Carrillo highway has the problem that its construction cuts through the mountains and in a zone with a lot of rainfall and this causes mudslides and landslides which close the road.

That is why the Colombian company, Autopistas del Caribe (Caribbean Motorways) presented a proposal to the National Concession Council for a road under the private initiative format.
This format allows private enterprise to present projects to the government, which if approved, moves the project to the bidding stage. If the company that proposed the project does not win the bid, the concession winner must pay the company that proposed the project the investigative and development costs.

The project includes the development of 67 kilometers of new road and contemplates improving the existing ones. The new road would be two lanes between Ochomogo and Turrialba and then the connection between Cartago and Siquirres. Then in Siquirres, it will link to the existing highway that leads to Lemon, which is known as Saopín and would change from two to four lanes.

Any driver in Costa Rica would appreciate the completion of such a project, but would be concerned about other sections of road which must be used to go to the new project not being improved.

That is why it is that the director of the project proposes to unify other existing projects, such as the expansion of the Florencio del Castillo Roadway to six lanes (San Jose-Cartago) and the construction of a tunnel between Hacienda Vieja and Zapote.

With this tunnel there is a connection with Florencio del Castillo. The new route to Siquirres is made and from there the union with Saopín, thereby making a new road to Limon.

The whole project, excluding the tunnel, will have a cost of $660 million U.S. It is estimated that with this road, traveling from San Jose to Limon by car at a maximum speed of 80 kilometers per hour would take about 1 hour and 52 minutes.

It can only be hoped that the authorities in Costa Rica will review the proposal and then make it known if it is approved so that a feasibility study can be done and then open the bidding process.

At TicosLand.com, we want this kind of proposals to be effective, but we must ensure the welfare of the population, as well as ensuring the possibility of improving our infrastructure and that there is no violation of rights.