Drivers Sinking in Deplorable Costa Rica Roads

Drivers Unable to Navigate Craters (Photo courtesy of NACION.com)

The road system of Costa Rica is starting to resemble a lunar surface: enormous craters, deformities, collapses, fractures, ditches and stones. The dreadful state of the local roads is a big enemy to axles, rotaries, wheels and tyres, making Living in Costa Rica a problem if you own a vehicle. The Planificación del Ministerio de Obras Públicas y Transportes (the planning arm of the Ministry of Public Works and Transportation) asserts that there are 30,000 km of local roads in total, but only 11% – 3000 km – are in good condition.

A trip via Rincón de Ricardo in San Pablo of Heredia, towards the Universidad Interamericana, will quickly confront you with an excessive amount of potholes of at least 30 cm deep and two metres wide. The ability to dodge them is a tricky issue: drivers must restrict themselves to 10 km/hr, zigzagging to avoid dangerous collisions. The same problems are occurring in Siquirres of Limón; San Carlos of Alajuela; Nicoya and Santa Cruz of Guanacaste; Corredores, Golfito and the central canton of Puntarenas.

The responsibility for the abysmal road conditions rests with the municipalities, who tend to hold on to tax revenue that has been destined to repair the holes. According to the National Treasury, as of Oct. 30, 79 municipalities had ¢13 billion ($23.6 million) between them and yet did next to nothing. The wealthiest are Buenos Aires of Puntarenas, with ¢785 million ($1.4 million); Siquirres, with ¢557 million ($1 million) and Turrabares, with ¢459 million (over $800,000). Only San Pablo of Heredia and Garabito do not have sufficient money.

Agnes Gómez, mayoress of Buenos Aires, recently announced that November would see an investment of ¢53 million ($95,500) to repair at least 15 km of road. However, this was denounced when it became apparent that there were not enough bids by Costa Rican businesses on the contract. Meanwhile, Mauren Fallas, mayoress of Desamparados, announced that this emergency is being worked on with 60 tons of new asphalt being laid every day. The solution is just not being seen fast enough.

As of 2003, the Contraloría General de la Republic (Government Regulator of Public Funds) has made 32 reports regarding the problems facing the municipalities to try and help them reach their repair goals. One problem is that the municipalities are not budgeting for the work, and are then running into financial difficulties. Insufficient time is spent checking the quality of the asphalt. Karla González, Minister of Transportation, asserts that the local road system is a “disaster”, but that the infrastructure of each municipality is also inadequate to fully resolve the problem without additional help.

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