New bridge means more log jams soon

PANAMA. Road construction around the city continues apace, forcing residents to accept traffic jams as they work through the building of new roads to prevent further snarls in the future.

The Minister of Public Works, Benjamin Colamarco, announced that starting January 26 the route from the entrance to Cerro Patacon towards Villa Caceres will be closed, to sllow the construction of a bridge in an area where 65,000 cars drive through every day.

It is a project that, according to the Minister, will help ease vehicular circulation in all directions.

He personally inspected the site of the project to verify its execution and stated that everything is moving at a good rhythm.

To prevent traffic disturbances through this zone, side roads will be constructed next to the bridge, so that cars coming from Cerro Patacon can turn towards Tumba Muerto and Villa Caceres.

There will be proper signals, stop lights, and traffic policemen.

The bridge being constructed in Tumba Muerto is estimated to be finished on April 30 or the first week of May at the latest, while the second phase of the project, the four lanes that connect towards different locations, will be ready by mid-July.

The company CONALVIAS S.A. is in charge of the project.

The company is contemplating the construction of three turning points in the intersection of Transistmica and the entrance of San Isidro in order to alleviate the traffic jams that take place there.

This part of the construction works would be finished by mid-July.

The project’s cost increased from $27 million to $37 million, due to the indemnity payments p to more than 40 residents and business owners established in theareathat will be used for the bridge construction.