QCOSTARICA – Driving to and from San José and Limón on the Ruta 32 in the coming week will more stressful than usual, as a 37.5 kilometre section of road will be closed between 9:00am and 12 noon and from 1:30pm to 4:00pm, Monday to Friday.
That is to say, weekdays between 9 and 4, the road will be open for only 90 minutes.
On Saturday and Sunday, the closure will be between 7:00am and 11:00am and 12:30pm and 4:00pm.
The closures are expected to be in effect for the next seven days. Originally the Ministerio de Obras Públicas y Transportes (MOPT) has expected the work completed this week, but on Thursday MOPT engineer, Alejandra Acosta, announced the extension.
The affected section is between Heredia and Guapiles.
The closure is to allow the demarcation of the road, that due to eather conditions through the area do not allow night work and heavy traffic weaving through the mountains place work crews at risk.
The work inclusing the painting of lines on the road, installing folding plastic poles to avoid overtaking of vehicles – the cause of many fatal accidents – and install or replace road signs.
The Policia de Transito (traffic police) will be on site to effect the closures and control traffic.
For those having to travel to and from Limon during the closures, the alternate routes include: Siquirres – Turrialba – Cartago – San Jose or Guapiles – Saripiqui – Heredia – San Jose.