San José's beltway on track for 2022 completion

The design phase has started of an overpass on Costa Rica’s Circunvalación highway, capital San José’s beltway, local media reported.

Constructora Meco will have 180 days to present the designs for the overpass in the southern Hatillo 4 district of the city, including topographic studies. Once approved by highway authority Conavi, Meco will have 360 days to carry out construction.

Speaking to local media outlet Diario Extra, Conavi head Mario Rodríguez (pictured) said the aim of the latest works was to reduce congestion on the southern section of the route. The works in the Hatillo districts include building overpasses, intersections and complementary roadworks. Meco holds the contract for the Hatillo 4 section and work is expected to start in September at a cost of 4.5bn colones (US$7.4mn).

Further work is expected in Hatillo 7 and 8. Meco and three other groups, namely Constructora Hernán Solís and consortiums Copisa Intra and Cacisa Codocsa bid on that contract, which has yet to be awarded. Copisa Intra has been awarded the contract twice but the decisions were appealed by Meco.

In January, it was reported that northern section Circunvalación Norte was 80% complete. Asphalting the largest viaduct in the country was at 96% and safety barriers were at 99%. Work on Circunvalación Norte involves US$163mn – which Central American development bank Cabei is providing – to complete the beltway and is expected to conclude in 2022.

Constructora Hernán Solís-Grupo Estrella is in charge of the overall project.