The Ministry of Public Works and Transport has given up on its own feasibility study for updating the road through the Zurquí hill but that’s not the end of the story. It has been opened up to private companies to come up with ideas.
It’s a complicated situation as it should be extended to four lanes but it lines the protected national park and has unstable walls on the other side.
One idea is to extend the road using a tunnel parallel to Zurquí along with two or more viaducts and some stretches of road made into two levels. The idea also includes three kilometers of anti-landslide structures and 28 containment structures as well as false tunnels meant to protect vehicles and drivers from falling materials that plague the road. A platform would allow for circulation in case a lane is affected by landslides.
If approved, this plan could be completed in a shorter timeframe than expected. The estimated investment is $643 million that would be paid back by “socially acceptable” tolls.
