New Highway from San Jose to Orotina

Continuing along the line of my last blog concerning Costa Rica roads, today an article in La Nacion announced that construction will begin on the San Jose – Caldera Highway in January of 2008. Here are highlights from the Article (follow the link to read the entire article (in Spanish)…….

-La Contraloria has ordered construction to commence in January 2008
-The idea for the Highway was borne 30 years ago and has suffered many starts and delays
-The total contract of construction (awarded to Autopistas del Sol) is valued at $230 millions, which is $72 million more than estimated in 2001 (the increase due to rise in cost of materials)
-The total length of the highway will be 77 kilometers (or about 48 miles)
-The term of construction is 30 months and completion is scheduled for July 2010
-There will be three sections: San Jose to Ciuded Colon, Cuidad Colon to Orotina and Orotina to Caldera
-The drive time from San Jose to Puntarenas will decrease from two hours to 45 minutes
-Drivers will pay a toll $2.70 (or 1,400 colones) to complete the entire route

This road will be a major boom to real estate prices in these areas. In fact, prices will inevitably rise long before the road is completed. Please stay tuned to My Blog and The Costa Rica Zine for more announcements as news develops. However, there have been been many rumors of this road becomming reality and as of yet, it has been much ado about nothing. This time, who knows?

Pura Vida