The Administrative Appeals Court suspended Friday morning the opening of the Ciudad Colón toll booth on Caldera Highway, which connects San José to the Pacific port of Caldera.
The decision comes after the court decided to review a legal proceedings presented by the mayors of Mora, Santa Ana and Puriscal against construction company Autopistas del Sol and the National Concessions Council (CNC). The mayors are concerned with the lack of alternate routes that will allow residents of those three cantons to avoid the toll road.
In a press release, the judicial authorities stated that Autopistas del Sol and the CNC will have three working days to present their arguments regarding the legal action.
Public Works and Transport Minister (MOPT) Francisco Jiménez said that the suspension will allow the CNC to verify that Autopistas del Sol obeys all conditions demanded of that route.
Before the court’s ruling, MOPT had authorized the opening of the toll barrier for this weekend. In January 2010, Autopistas del Sol also made an attempt to open the toll, but neighbors protested and it had to be closed.
The Administrative Appeals Court will listen to both parties state their case on Nov. 7 at 8:30 a.m.