A section of Costa Rica’s Route 2, the Southern Inter-American Highway, remains closed after a landslide destroyed part of the roadway, the Ministry of Public Works and Transportation (MOPT) reported.

The damaged stretch is near the Cuesta López community, in the Brujo District of Puntarenas Province. Authorities said the collapse was caused by the failure of an underground drainage culvert, which triggered the landslide.

As a result, the highway is completely closed between the cantons of Buenos Aires and Paso Real.

 

Ministry crews are already on site, removing the damaged culvert. Once that work is complete, they will install a new underground concrete culvert with significantly greater capacity to channel rainwater.

Officials estimate repairs to the roadway will be finished by Monday, Dec. 22.

Traffic officers and road signage will be in place to guide drivers. Drivers traveling between Buenos Aires and Paso Real are advised to detour via Route 34, also known as the Southern Coastal Highway (Costanera Sur). Drivers should take the detour at  Palmar Norte Canton before reconnecting with Route 2.

The repairs on Route 2 are part of a broader national effort to upgrade infrastructure across Costa Rica. In a recent project, a section of the main highway leading to Juan Santamaría International Airport in Alajuela was temporarily closed for the construction of a two-level overpass.

In related events, Costa Rica will temporarily suspend its weekday vehicle restriction in San José during the year-end holiday break.

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