Published on Thursday, January 22, 2026
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

Costa Rica has begun construction on a new section of Route 1, the northern Inter-American Highway, between the canton of Barranca in Puntarenas Province and the Limonal district in the canton of Abangares, Guanacaste Province, the Ministry of Public Works and Transportation (MOPT) announced Wednesday.

The project spans 30 miles and includes a new four-lane highway, side barriers, bridges, pedestrian overpasses, wildlife crossings and designated areas for public transportation, among other improvements.

Authorities stated that the project initially commenced in August 2020 and was anticipated to be completed by 2023. Construction was suspended in late 2022 after the two companies initially contracted to build the highway requested cancellation of their contracts.

To avoid future disputes with contractors, officials said the work will now be divided into two separate contracts with private construction companies.

The first segment, from the canton of Barranca to the canton of San Gerardo, will be built by Consorcio Ruta Uno. The second segment, from San Gerardo to Limonal in Guanacaste, will be constructed by the company Meco. Each segment will be carried out under a separate contract.

Authorities said completing the full project will require more than $273 million. The highway is being financed through a loan from the Inter-American Development Bank Group (IDB).

 

Officials added that the road will remain open to vehicular traffic during the construction period. It is expected to be completed in two years.

Authorities said the improvement of the route is essential to boosting the country’s competitiveness, as it serves as a key highway for producers and tourism across the region.

The Route 1 project is part of a broader national effort to improve transportation infrastructure across Costa Rica. Last week, MOPT crews have also been working on a new bridge over the Guacimal River in Puntarenas Province.

MOPT is the government agency responsible for overseeing Costa Rica’s road network, ports, airports and public transportation systems.

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