QCOSTARICA — Given the road chaos facing the Greater Metropolitan Area (GAM), in particular the area west of San Jose city, due to the simultaneous multiple road works being carried out, the Minister of Public Works and Transportation (MOPT), Luis Amador, announced this Wednesday at a press conference the issuance of two guidelines for public institutions to allow teleworking to their workers who are residents of Alajuela, Heredia and Cartago.
“There are a series of road works, all in parallel. This is having an impact on different sectors. One of the many measures we are taking is a teleworking guideline for the Alajuela and Heredia sectors, so that all public officials who can telework agree with their management on teleworking schedules. The Cartago directive that was soon to expire was also extended to provide some relief,” Amador mentioned.
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He also announced that he will soon sign another guideline to establish staggered schedules in the public sector, in order to disperse the traffic peaks that enter San José at the same time.
The Minister also indicated that they are analyzing placing one or two Bailey bridges in Bajo Los Ledezma, where about 20 or 25 thousand vehicles pass through daily, in order to decongest the passage.
The installation of these bridges will take 40 days to become a reality, according to Amador, since it is necessary to sign an agreement with the water and sewer utility, the Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados (AyA), for the land surrounding the sector where the works are located.
“Costa Ricas works on ‘convenios’ (agreements), there is no other way,” said a frustrated Amador, of the reality facing many public road projects across the country.
In addition to the ongoing roadworks causing gridlock in areas of the General Cañas, the Circunvalacion, Pavas, and La Sabana, where during morning and afternoon peak traffic periods, a trip that typically takes less than 5 minutes can take up to an hour or more.
Another major headache is the drive into San Jose from Alajuela in the mornings and the drive to in the afternoons, which it can take up to 2 hours. A normal drive to and from San Jose and Alajuela is 20 minutes.
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The GAM’s gridlock is the growth in the country’s vehicular fleet going from 700,000 to 2,700,000 in the last 20 years, with practically no new roads and a country with a diminished traffic police force that now stands at 660 officers – many of whom are not even on the streets, as they carry out administrative work – less than half of 10 years ago.
A good practice today is to arm oneself with a lot of patience and allow 3 to 5 times or more the normal driving time during peak hours.
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