News & Articles

On Wednesday, the highway was completed closed off for more than two hours and then only with one lane when it was re-opened, to allow for work crews and machinery to clear the debris.

The highway is worst at night as fallen rocks on the roadway cannot be seen until last minute.

Last night (Wednesday) yet another driver was affected by the rock fall, as his vehicle was hit by a falling rock. On Sunday a motorcyclist hit a gigantic rock in the middle of the road. The driver suffered injuries, while the passenger died in hospital on Tuesday.

Early Wednesday morning the San José - Caldera was closed off completely between Atenas and Orotina due to severe mudslides on the highway. By 10am the road was re-opened with "paso regulado" (with one lane open) but was closed again for more mudslides at different points of the highway. By 1pm, the road was again re-opened.

The problems of Wednesday were between kilometres 45 and 47, causing tremendous congestion, many drivers trapped for hours.

The problems of rocks falling and mudslides are primarily between kilometres 32 and 52, a 20 kilometre stretch of road between Atenas and Orotina that was carved out of the mountains.

The worst is at night as the majority of this section of the highway is not illuminated.

The road concessionaire, Autopistas del Sol, says that the situation is normal for a new highway as it faces its first rainy season.

The Ministerio de Obras Públicas y Transportes (MOPT) is asking drivers to be extremely careful when travelling through the area.

Last night's impact by the rock occurred around 9pm. The driver said that all he was given was note by Autopistas del Sol to make a claim for the damage to the windshield. said he felt mocked.

MOPT vice-minister, María Lorena López, assures that Autopistas is completely responsible for any damages suffered on the highway.