Cartago Highway Expansion Planned

THE National Concessions Council has announced it expects to publish the bidding requirements by May for the public works concession to expand the

, which connects eastern San José to the colonial capital of Cartago.

The project will expand the highway from four to six lanes (three in each direction) between the Zapote rotunda and La Lima de Cartago. The total length of the proposed highway is 22.5 kilometers.

The expanded highway is expected to reduce the time it takes to travel between the two cities by as much as 20 minutes during rush hours, according to Rocío Aguilar, Technical Secretary of the Concessions Council.

The company with the winning bid will be in charge of expanding the highway with its own funds (TT, Jan. 23, 30, Feb. 13).

According to the plan, the company should recover its investment and make a profit by charging a toll of approximately $0.90 each way during 25 years.