Toll booths along National Route 1, the main highway connecting the capital to Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO), will be demolished this week, the Ministry of Public Works and Transportation (MOPT) announced.

The route, known as the General José María Cañas Highway, is a key corridor to the airport in Alajuela province.

Authorities said demolition work will take place Monday through Friday from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. to avoid disrupting heavy daytime traffic.

The project calls for the complete removal of toll structures that have been out of service since last year. A full closure of the roadway will be required during work hours.

Officials warned that traffic traveling from San José to Alajuela will be suspended overnight, particularly affecting drivers heading to the airport. The closure will begin near the Cervecería Costa Rica brewery in Alajuela and extend to the tool booths demolition site.

Traffic officers have been deployed, and warning signs have been installed to help manage vehicle flow. Drivers are advised to plan for possible delays.

Traffic in the opposite direction, from Alajuela to San José, will remain unaffected and operate as usual.

The demolition is part of a broader national infrastructure initiative. Recently, authorities reinstated driving restrictions on the Tárcoles River Bridge, widely known as the “Crocodile Bridge,” along Route 34 in Puntarenas province as crews carry out urgent structural repairs.

MOPT oversees Costa Rica’s roads, ports, airports and public transportation systems.

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