THE TORRIJOS FLAGSHIP

Cinta Costera shines at last

06-29-2009 | DAVID YOUNG

dyoungstar@laestrella.com.pa

The mega project was criticized by environmentalists and architects alike, who feel that the Bay of Panama has been spoiled

Panama Star PANAMA. After weeks of on-off announcements, discussions of whether it was a waste of money or a boon to the city, concrete surrounded by grass or grass surrounded by concrete, Panama’s Cinta Costera (Coastal Strip) was opened to the public on Sunday.

There was a final glitch on Saturday, and another 24 hour delay, while workmen scurried to put the finishing touches to the $189 million project, erecting signs, painting parking spots for the disabled, and removing fences.

The project has been in progress for 20 months, an called for scores of thousands of tons of landfill, needed over 18,000 giant concrete crosses to form a breakwater, and the construction of new roads and viaducts, and gave employment to thousands of workers, none of whom seemed to get any official acknowledgment as the results of their labors were unveiled with little ceremony.

Serious joggers and walkers were there long before President Martin Torrijos and his entourage swept in with a fleet of official SUVs. By the time, soon after seven a.m., he and some of his cabinet started a stroll along the pedestrian and bicycle pathways that skirt the Bay of Panama from the Fish Market to Paitilla, the citzens were arriving to see and experience the new challenge to the Amador Causeway.

They came in their hundreds, walking, jogging, pushing strollers, alone or in groups. on skateboards, roller blades or bicycles.

They came to watch and wonder; got a close up view of the yachts owned by the fortunate benefactors of the Fishing and Yacht Club; clicked their cameras at new views of the ever changing city skyline; walked over the pedestrian skyways that leap the new four way traffic lanes running towards Paitilla; tried out the new baños; gazed at recycling boxes, for paper, plastic, metal and organic and used their cell phones to spread the word and say: “Come and join us.”

Not for them the need to study the maps showing how to navigate the new roadways, and with early morning Sunday traffic at a minimum, no need to figure out how to cross the six lanes of Avenida Balboa.

There are signs a-plenty marking no parking zones, asking citizens not to litter, or walk on the newly laid turf near the water’s edge, and to leave parking space room for the disabled.

Whatever the problems of construction, delays, traffic snarls, disputes over who is going to pay for its maintenance, and even a thumbs down from president elect Ricardo Martinelli, those who were there, had nothing but praise.

A bemused pelican looking down from a post at the water’s edge, seemed to approve. It’s now up to the people to respect their new gift and obey the signs. Not much to ask for a Christmas in June gift.

See page 2.