The Ministry of Public Works and Transport (MOPT) and the National Road Council (CONAVI) announced on March 20 that construction will begin in April on four bridges located in different cantons of the Chorotega region. The projects are part of the Emergency Program for Comprehensive and Resilient Infrastructure Reconstruction (PROERI).
The bridges to be rebuilt are Las Haciendas, which serves as a boundary between Upala and La Cruz; Tenorio in Cañas; and Gallina and Carrizal in Carrillo, Guanacaste. All four structures will be reconstructed according to current seismic regulations and modern vehicle load standards. The goal is to ensure optimal safety conditions and performance for current traffic demands as well as future natural risks.
For Las Haciendas and Tenorio bridges, reconstruction will include widening the roadway from one lane to two lanes, allowing one lane per direction. The new bridges will also feature pedestrian sidewalks, vehicle protection barriers, improved access points, and updated road signage to enhance safety for both pedestrians and drivers. Hydraulic protection works will be carried out to increase the resilience of the infrastructure against future river flooding.
Construction of the new Carrizal and Gallina bridge structures is expected to benefit approximately 20,501 people each, with an investment of $1,211,480.81 per bridge. The Las Haciendas bridge project is projected to positively impact about 60,555 people with an investment of $2,091,289.43.
Finally, $3,630,038.38 will be invested in the Tenorio bridge project, which aims to benefit 37,154 people. Funding for these projects comes from the Central American Bank for Economic Integration.
