No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeCosta Rica'La Platina' bridge to be partially closed for over a month, officials...

‘La Platina’ bridge to be partially closed for over a month, officials say

The bridge that keeps causing nightmares for Costa Rican drivers will be closed for six weeks beginning on Jan. 21, authorities from the Public Works and Transport Ministry (MOPT) confirmed Thursday. The long closure on “La Platina” bridge on General Cañas Highway will affect the lanes going to San JosĂ© from Alajuela and Juan SantamarĂ­a Airport.

Road officials said the bridge needs to be shut down during that time so that they can replace the gratings under the road and add a new layer of cement to the roadway in preparation for a third lane.

MOPT closed the same southeast-bound lanes Thursday morning for a 24-hour period on the problematic bridge over the Virilla River that the government has unsuccessfully tried to repair for the past decade.

The main detour route cuts through Lagunilla, Heredia. As of Thursday morning’s closure, the road has faced heavy traffic, according to the direction app Waze.

Government officials are expected to announce the details of the closure at a Friday press conference.

Trending Now

A Record Quiet Atlantic Does Not Mean a Calm Costa Rica

The Atlantic has gone longer without a hurricane than in any season on record. Here is why, and why it does not make Costa Rica any safer.

Forbes Spotlights La Fortuna’s Turn Toward Costa Rican Fine Dining

A Forbes travel feature published on the 14th argues that La Fortuna is quietly redefining what upscale dining looks like in Costa Rica, and...

Costa Rica Investigates Alleged Mass Data Leak that Included the President

Costa Rica's National Cybersecurity Directorate is investigating a dark web posting in which an unidentified threat actor claims to hold tens of millions of...

Dental tourism, because Medicare doesn’t cover for dental treatment

C. Everett Koop, known for his tenure as U.S. surgeon general during the Reagan administration, was renowned for his pediatric surgery and attention to...

New Costa Rica Law Requires Wildlife Crossings on Public Infrastructure

Costa Rica now has a law requiring wildlife crossings on public infrastructure projects, but the regulation that will actually put it into practice could...

Panama repeats China invitation to Canal Neutrality Treaty

Panama’s government again asked the People’s Republic of China to accede to the protocol of the Treaty Concerning the Permanent Neutrality and Operation of...

What the Red Sea Oil Halt Could Mean for Costa Rica

Saudi Arabia has not exported crude oil through its Red Sea ports since Saturday, after drone attacks damaged its East-West pipeline, according to maritime...

Central America Drought Kills Cattle and Threatens Food Supply

Animals are dropping dead amid the worst drought in living memory for many Central Americans, who are dealing with the unforgiving effects of the...

Chikungunya Cases Rise to 300 in Costa Rica as New Outbreak Hits San José

Costa Rica has reported 300 confirmed and probable cases of chikungunya so far in 2026, as the mosquito-borne virus continues to spread and a...
đŸŒ´ The Weekly Pura Vida

Costa Rica, Once a Week

The week's top stories, weather & insider tips — delivered every Sunday. One email, zero clutter.

đŸ”’ Free. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

Loading…

Latest News from Costa Rica

Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Car Rentals
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Travel