The Ministry of Public Works and Transport (MOPT) and the National Road Council (CONAVI) announced on March 26 that the Legislative Plenary has approved in a first debate the loan for the construction of the San José–San Ramón road corridor project and the Río Segundo radial.
This development is significant as it moves forward a long-awaited infrastructure project aimed at improving transportation for residents in western regions. The funding will support essential upgrades to one of Costa Rica’s key highway routes.
Minister of Public Works and Transport, Efraím Zeledón, said he was very pleased with this positive outcome. Zeledón confirmed that once the project becomes law, “from the Project Executing Unit, we are ready to publish the bidding document so that this work, which residents have waited years for, can soon begin to materialize.”
The approved loan totals $770 million. Of this amount, $600 million comes from a loan agreement with the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (BCIE), while an additional $170 million is provided by OPEC Fund.
The financing will allow intervention along 55.6 kilometers, including expansion works on General Cañas and Bernardo Soto highways as well as construction of a new 4.45-kilometer radial between Río Segundo de Alajuela and Belén. The project also includes building or upgrading 21 interchanges—such as Circunvalación – Juan Pablo II, Cariari, Juan Santamaría International Airport interchange—and constructing 20 pedestrian crossings, 25 vehicle bridges, two railway bridges, rehabilitating seven existing bridges, creating eighteen wildlife crossings and establishing one hundred ten bus bays among other works.
Looking ahead, MOPT officials say preparations are underway to move quickly into procurement stages after final legislative approval.
