Route 32 reopened Friday afternoon after falling debris blocked the highway through Braulio Carrillo National Park for more than six hours, disrupting travel between San José and Costa Rica’s Caribbean region.
The Ministry of Public Works and Transport, known as MOPT, said the highway reopened at 3:03 p.m. after crews cleared material from the roadway. Officials asked drivers to remain patient while long lines of vehicles began moving and urged motorists to respect speed limits through the mountainous section.
As of 5 p.m. Costa Rica time, or 7 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, authorities had not announced another closure of the highway. The disruption began at approximately 8:35 a.m. Friday after earth and other debris fell onto the road around kilometers 23 and 24. MOPT initially closed the route in both directions while machinery and workers assessed the slopes and removed material from several affected points.
The closure affected traffic traveling between the Central Valley and communities including Guápiles, Siquirres and Limón. If your new to Cosa Rica, Route 32 is the main road connection to the Caribbean coast for cars and a large share of the trucks traveling to and from the Limón port area.
The National Meteorological Institute said rain was expected to continue through the day in the Caribbean and Northern Zone, particularly in mountainous areas. The weather agency also reported stronger trade winds and maintained an advisory for rainfall in those regions.
Those conditions are important to know for drivers because the Braulio Carrillo section crosses steep, heavily forested terrain where saturated slopes can send soil, rocks and vegetation onto the highway with little warning.
Although Route 32 was open by late afternoon today, traffic delays were expected to continue as vehicles backed up during the closure moved through the affected area. Drivers were advised to reduce speed, keep additional distance between vehicles and watch for workers, machinery or debris along the road.
Heavy rain, fog and poor visibility can also make the highway more difficult after dark, particularly near the Zurquí tunnel and along the higher sections of the national park. The reopening does not guarantee that the highway will remain unaffected overnight if additional material falls. Anyone planning to use Route 32 on tonight or early tomorrow should check the latest MOPT and National Road Council updates before leaving.
