Costa Rica detail progress of road program

Works on the first 61 projects under Costa Rica's road network program (PRVC-II) are set to begin next year, public works and transport minister Rodolfo Méndez announced at a meeting with local mayors on Tuesday.

The program includes 180 road projects to be implemented across some of the country's cantons over a five-year period, and entails improving and upgrading 270km of roads and bridges, as well as drainage systems.

The investment required for the program amounts to US$144mn, the funds for which will come from a loan that the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) awarded to the Costa Rican government.

The first cantons whose roads will be improved include Alajuela, Abangares, Buenos Aires, Cañas, Esparza, Matina, Los Chiles, Mora, Nandayure, Osa, Pérez Zeledón and Pococí, among others.

The program's executive unit is currently completing the relevant administrative procedures so that works can be launched. In addition, unit authorities are working alongside municipal governments in defining the type of works to be completed in each locality, according to Méndez.

The contracts will be tendered in packages divided by regions to facilitate overseeing by authorities.

The Costa Rican government and the IDB signed a US$60mn cooperation deal to finance the first canton road network program (PRVC-I) back in 2008. The 129 projects forming part of the PRVC-1 were completed from 2009 to December last year.