Authorities will implement a temporary one-way traffic system on Sunday on Route 27 to ease congestion during the final Sunday of the Holy Week holiday, the Ministry of Public Works and Transportation (MOPT) announced.

The measure comes as traffic volumes typically surge with travelers returning from coastal and rural destinations to the Central Valley.

Holy Week, a major Catholic observance, began Sunday, March 29, and runs through Sunday, April 5. The period commemorates the final days of Jesus Christ’s life, including his passion, death and resurrection.

During the holiday, most government offices and many private businesses close or operate on reduced schedules, as required by law. The break traditionally leads to increased travel, with Costa Rican families heading to beaches and rural areas, while international arrivals also rise due to spring break tourism.

The temporary traffic plan will be in effect on Sunday, April 5, when authorities expect a significant increase in vehicles traveling between the Pacific Coast and the Central Valley.

Route 27, one of the country’s busiest highways, connects San José with the Pacific provinces of Puntarenas and Guanacaste. Traffic volumes typically rise sharply during the final weekend of the holiday as families return to the city.

Early this week, authorities issued a decree to improve traffic flow for both residents and tourists traveling to the country’s coastal regions during the Holy Week holiday.

To accommodate the heavy return traffic toward San José, officials will reverse traffic flow on a key stretch of the highway. From 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., all lanes between the Pozon toll station in Alajuela Province and the Ciudad Colón toll station in San José Province will be directed exclusively toward the capital.

Closures will begin one hour earlier at 1 p.m. and continue until 7 p.m., one hour after the contraflow ends. A maximum speed limit of 37 mph (60 kph) will be enforced during this period.

During contraflow hours, westbound drivers (from San José to the Pacific Coast) must use one of the following alternative routes:

• Route 1: From Río Segundo canton in Alajuela to Esparza canton in Puntarenas, rejoining Route 27.

• Route 3: Through Atenas canton to Orotina canton in Alajuela, reconnecting with Route 27 in Puntarenas.

• Route 239: From the Ciudad Colón district in San José to La Palma district, in the Parrita canton of Puntarenas.

Authorities advise drivers to plan ahead, remain alert to contraflow schedules, and drive with caution.

For real-time traffic information or roadside assistance, travelers may contact Globalvia, the company that manages Route 27, at (+506) 2588-4000.

Officers are also warning drivers to comply with traffic laws or face fines. Common violations include driving or parking vehicles on the sand and the improper use of personal watercraft, commonly known as jet skis.

In related developments, the Traffic Police offices nationwide are closed for in-person services during Holy Week. Drivers needing to file claims or address matters related to driver’s licenses, license plates or traffic fines must wait until offices reopen.

Despite the closures, traffic police officers will continue nationwide patrols as part of a broader “Safe Holy Week” operation aimed at maintaining road safety.

The MOPT oversees Costa Rica’s road, port, and airport infrastructure, as well as national public transportation policy.

------------------
Have you heard about expats facing difficulties traveling on Route 27 during contraflow days? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com