- The passage will be reduced from 3 lanes to 1 between December 12 and 19.
- Nighttime closures will be in effect from 8:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.
The reinforcement and expansion works on the “old” bridge over the Virilla River on National Route 32 (San Jose-Limon) require partial closures on the new structure, located parallel to the bridge being intervened.
The Project Execution Unit (UEP) at the National Road Council (Conavi) detailed that, from this Tuesday, December 12, to Tuesday, December 19, the passage will go from 3 lanes to 1 between 8:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m.
Conavi explained that a 50-ton crane will be placed, necessary to carry out lifting maneuvers of the working platform of the cars from span 4 of the “old” bridge.
During this period, the passage will alternate between Limon and San Jose.
“This lane reduction will only take place at night, from 8:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. Outside of that time, the bridge will have its usual 3 lanes of traffic,” said Conavi and the Ministry of Public Works and Transportation (MOPT) in a press release.
To enforce the regulations, necessary signaling measures will be implemented to inform drivers who need to travel through the work area during the specified hours.
At the site, luminous arrows (screens), devices to delimit the lane reduction, and 2 flaggers will be placed.
This intervention project for the “old” bridge had the start order in January 2023 and will be completed in July 2024.
The government of Carlos Alvarado Quesada paused the project after the “Cochinilla” case uncovered in July 2021.
The Virilla 32 consortium built the new structure located at that point, which was inaugurated in September 2020. In the same year, Conavi promoted a contractual amendment, approved by the General Comptroller of the Republic (CGR), to renovate the old structure.
The cost of the bridge’s modernization exceeds $22 million in total, and financing for this purpose was granted by the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (BCIE).
Precisely, the latter entity was responsible for financing the construction of the new bridge that went into operation in September 2020. This also includes supervision by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS). The modernization will increase the structure from 2 to 3 lanes.
In this way, along with the new bridge inaugurated in September 2020, there will be 6 lanes (3 in each direction). During the development of the works on the “old” bridge, the passage over the river will be reduced to 3 lanes (not 5 as it is currently).
What about the farmers in the San Isidro, Perez Zeladon? Is it true the government made a sneaky “fast” ruling and they are protesting in the streets? Why would the government want to harm small farmers?
Like Jennifer, I want to know more-
“What about the farmers in the San Isidro, Perez Zeladon? Is it true the government made a sneaky “fast” ruling and they are protesting in the streets? Why would the government want to harm small farmers?”