Costa Rica’s New Highway to the Pacific – More delays- April 2007 update.

The goal for the new highway is to provide a safer and faster (less than one hour) route between San José and the Central Pacific region of the country which would be beneficial for import and export activities, and would also help tourism and farming development in the region.

The new highway project was designed over 30 years ago. The road’s five main bridges were built and in place by 2002. Sadly a few of the bridges have already deteriorated quite badly.

Supposedly once they actually begin the work, Autopistas del Sol has 24 months to deliver the finished road.

This is not the first time that the new highway project has been delayed:

1. June 2001: The Argentine/Costa Rican consortium Cartellone Acosol won the for US$144,000,000
2. August 2003: A third member of the consortium was added – the Canadian company – SNC Lavalin.
3. November 2004: The Cartellone Acosol consortium resigned from the project because of serious delays with the expropriation of land.
4. December 2005: The Contraloría authorizes Autopistas del Sol to do the project.
5. April 2006: The new contract with Autopistas del Sol is signed.
6. April 2007: The works can not begin until the Contraloría countersigns the new addendum in the road’s contract.

The beginning of the construction of the new highway from San Jose to the Pacific coast at Puerto Caldera was supposed to have started in April 2007 and the new delays on the new highway are because:

• The banks have demanded additional guarantees from the builders Autopistas del Sol to protect the US$200,000,000 loan and…
• Autopistas del Sol have stated that they will not start anything until the Costa Rican government office in charge of approving all budgets (the contraloría) has countersigned the addendum.

Autopistas del Sol plans to recoup their investment over a 25 year period with seven toll booths along the route and many people are wondering how ‘fast’ the route will be if they have to stop and pay seven tolls. The anticipated toll for the entire journey is 1,360 colones which at today’s rate of exchange is about US$2.60 – For shorter legs, the toll will be less.

Álvaro Muelas, the General Manager of Autopistas del Sol said that they have all the machinery and staff ready to begin the work but, the release of monies funding this depends on Contraloría’s decision.

Luis Diego Vargas, the Costa Rican Vice Minister for Concessions declined to comment on the whether the Spanish/Portuguese/Costa Rican consortium (Autopistas del Sol) would be penalized for the new delay.

Will the price of your Costa Rica real estate rise when this highway is eventually built as many real estate sales people are fond of saying?

I would suggest that after talking about if for over quarter of a century, any possible appreciation is already built into the price of the real estate that’s for sale along the route.

Our thanks to and our friends at La Nación – Costa Rica’s largest Spanish circulation newspaper for their permission use this article.

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Andrew Makarik

to@welovecostarica.com

Andrew Makarik is the main editor of WeLoveCostaRica, a fan of this sunny country. He is also a loving husband and a has a lovely daughter. By being a devoted family man and the biggest Costa Rica fan, he wants to make more people feel at home there. WeLoveCostaRica unites people and helps them find new home or a new travel destination. This website is a friendly community where everyone can find not only information, but also new friends and travel pals. Andrew is also passionate about IT and programming, so he himself maintains a friendly atmosphere in this cozy environment of WeLoveCostaRica.com.