Caldera Highway to be open in one direction Dec. 26, Jan. 2

To facilitate traffic returning from holiday trips to the beach, Caldera Highway will operate one-way only on Dec. 26 and Jan. 2, from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.

A 39-kilometer portion of the highway from Puntarenas to San José will be open in only in the direction of the capital on the Sunday after Christmas and the Sunday after New Year’s Day as travelers return home from vacation. The part of the highway from Pozón Orotina to Ciudad Colon will have all direction flowing toward San José from noon to 5 p.m. on those two days. More tolls also will open at checkpoints on the highway to prevent cars from bottlenecking at tollbooths

Drivers heading to Pacific coast beaches during those hours will be directed to use the old highway through Atenas.

Another troubled spot for holiday travelers is the General Cañas Highway between the Juan Santamaría International Airport and San José. Long-awaited repairs to the bridge that spans the Virilla River, known as La Platina, are scheduled to begin on Dec. 26.

Transportation authorities said traffic on the highway would be limited to a single lane during construction. The bridge is located halfway between the airport and San José.

Correction: This article originally stated that the Caldera Highway would be open in one direction for the entire week following Christmas. The road closures will just be on the following two Sundays