More protests planned for Thursday over San Ramón Highway

Public protests will return next Thursday when residents from San Ramón, Grecia, Zarcero, Naranjo and Palmares take to the streets due to the lack of responses from the government over a project for expanding and renovating parts of the 58-kilometer highway from the capital to San Ramón, in Alajuela.

Residents organized under the “Foro de Occidente” (Western Forum) will be joined by students and professional drivers from 9 a.m. in three different locations.

Demonstrators will meet in front of the National University in Heredia, in front of the International Mall in Alajuela and at the San Ramón intersection on the Bernardo Soto Highway.

Among the group’s demands is a request that government officials draft a bill to build the road using only public funds, instead of granting the project to a private company in a public bid.

Following several protests President Laura Chinchilla last month promised not to move forward on a concession with Brazilian company OAS for expansion of the highway, until an agreement is reached.