Drivers and pedestrians using one of San José’s busiest road corridors face temporary changes Tuesday as renovation work begins on a pedestrian bridge over the Circunvalación highway in the Hatillos area.
The work is centered on the pedestrian bridge that connects Hatillos 2 and 5. The first stage involves removing the bridge’s out-of-service elevators, a job that requires closing pedestrian access to the structure from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m today.
Traffic will also be affected. A lane in each direction of Circunvalación will be closed as a safety measure while crews carry out the elevator removal. The restrictions will affect the outside lanes closest to the sidewalk, as well as nearby marginal roads in the area.
The bridge work forms part of the larger project tied to the new tunnel between Hatillo 5 and Hatillo 6, one of the major road improvements along the Circunvalación corridor. The upper lanes in the sector are already in service, while the tunnel portion of the project is expected to open to vehicle traffic in July.
After today’s elevator removal, crews are scheduled to continue Wednesday with painting and general refurbishment of the pedestrian bridge. That stage is expected to last about 10 days and may require occasional pedestrian controls while the work advances.
The Hatillos area is one of the most sensitive points on Circunvalación because of its heavy vehicle flow and the number of neighborhoods that depend on pedestrian crossings to move between communities. Any lane restriction in the area can quickly affect travel times, especially during peak commute hours.
Anyone driving through Circunvalación on Tuesday should expect slower traffic near Hatillos 2 and 5, watch for crews and lane-control devices, and allow extra time. Pedestrians who normally use the bridge will need to plan around the 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. closure and use available alternate crossings during the work window.
