by
Terry Mills

Update: President Arias recently drove the entire new highway and confirmed that it takes 45 minutes to drive from the San Jose Area to the central pacific beach area of Caldera. He plans to cut the ribbon for the grand opening on the 27th of January!

Update: After driving on the new highway for a few months, I can now report that Atenas is now officially the center of paradise (OK, so we are a bit prejudiced) It takes 15 minutes to drive to Orotina, 20 to Santa Ana, 25 to Escazu, 30 minutes to the beaches. We truely are central to everything!

Wow! After more than 20 years on the planning table and precious little actual work our new highway from the Escazú area (San Jose suburb) to the Central Pacific coast of Caldera is now in final stages of completion.

One side paved near Atenas

They have started construction on both ends and are working their way toward the middle. Atenas is near the middle and here is how the progress looks!

A quick trip to the beaches from Escazú, Ciudad Colon, and Atenas will soon be reality as well as a much shorter journey for the entire central valley.  It also means that our little town of Atenas will be smack in the middle giving us the best of both worlds.  The best medical care in the world at CIMA hospital,  Pricemart, Multi Plaza Mall, and EPA (similar to Home Depot) will be 20 minutes away, not 45.  The Central Pacific coast, 40 minutes, not an hour and a half. 

 

"Quebrador", makes gravel of different sizes out of rock

To aid in our “quick Trip” we now have the option of the “Quick Pass” system so we can zip right through the toll booths.  The new speed limit is 90KPH, an unheard of (and dangerous) speed on most roads in Costa Rica, but not this one, and it is smoooooth going.  Amazing!

The Quick Pass system is available through HSBC

The construction of toll booths (Peajes) near the Atenas exit

Here in Atenas, we are very excited and looking forward to smooth "sailing" to get to San Jose and the beaches as well as less trucks and beach traffic which now has to pass through town on the way to the Central Pacific coast.

On another front; properties in places like Escobal, Balsa, Guacimo, and Barroeta will now have quick access to the highway and are no longer "out in the middle of nowhere".

We have posted more photos on our photo blog, check them out here: Photo Blog