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Jun
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Puerto Viejo gettting a new road
Posted by Manuel | June 24, 2010 | Categories: Community News, Transport | 11 Comments
If you have lived more then just a few months in Puerto Viejo over the past 10 years, I’ll bet you can’t count on your own 2 hands and feet the number of times that we have heard the good news: the road will be fixed soon! Yet….time after time, it never happened, and the road has just kept on getting worse and worse – to the point where it has become downright embarrassing, dangerous and for some – costly!
When the residents scream enough and protest to the local municipality, we sometimes got the potholes filled with material from the nearby Sixaola River, only to watch it get washed away in the next downpour and the potholes getting bigger and deeper each time.
As a local resident and owner of a vehicle, I can personally attest that our biggest expense is THE CAR….and I am not talking about the gas! With horrible roads, it is impossible to stay away from the numerous highly trustworthy and knowledgeable mechanics – on average monthly! I could easily say that I have had to revise, update or change most parts of my suspension at least 4 times a year – every year!
A few days ago an unbelievable site appeared from the horizons: a caravan of heavy-duty road building equipment rolled in through Puerto Viejo, past Cocles, past Playa Chiquita, through Punta Uva and down to Manzanillo….”could it be” we thought to ourselves?
The answer is mostly yes! As it turns out, they are redoing the road (in reverse order from Manzanillo towards Puerto Viejo), with the best material and thickness these roads have ever seen. Unlike the first coat from 10 years ago which was a mix of gravel and tar, this time, we are getting a full 5 cm of hot asphalt…compressed and rolled on top of the bad road. Upon speaking to the “engineers” on the side of the road, we are learning that they are fixing only the stretches that need it most, and supposedly they will return in “about a month” to do the remaining (that part is the remaining mystery!) We don;t know what the final product will be….but at least we already know what we are seeing: The new road is slightly narrow…and leaves very little room for bicycles or pedestrians – in fact cars will even have to slow down when oncoming traffic is approaching – but a mostly smooth ride should be expected from Puerto Viejo down to Manzanillo.
While most, including myself, are thrilled to have a new road, there is also a new fear that the tourists and our children will be less safe walking or bicycling on the road, as drivers a will be tempted to drive “super fast”.
In an ideal world – we would love to see some bike lanes or trails and speed bumps along the way……perhaps this is something our local community can work towards!
Drive safely!
 Article by Manuel Pinto. Manuel, along with his wife Emmanuelle, are long time residents of Costa Rica’s Caribbean and owners of Caribe Sur Real Estatem a full service real estate company on the southern Caribbean coast of Costa Rica, assisting clients to buy or sell eco-friendly properties and businesses to people from around the world. More information at www.caribesur-realestate.com |
Comments
11 Comments so far
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And what about from Hone Creek to Puerto Viejo?
I can’t believe my eyes. This is great
According to unreliable sources, one company has the contract to do PV to Manzanillo and another company has contract from PV to Hone creek.
The company that is currently working in Playa Chiquita has men and equipment available. The company that handles the Hone Creek – PV Contract is on another job right now.
Any progress is welcome.
This is exciting and welcome news for our community. The road , leading into PV, from Hone Creek,is crucial,but do not make this road narrow. I would love to meet the “engineers” that handles this , for once, try thinking ahead,and as the dangerous of speeders,PUT SPEED BUMPS !
Lets get this project handled properly,, right from the gate, and I appeal to all the locals,to watch carefully, and to form a consortium to oversight and direct this project to completion.We will only have one shot at this!
I’d have to add a wish for a speed bump every 50 meters to that road. I try not to get up too much speed but it’s going to be harder not to speed with a nicely paved road and few MOPT patrols on duty to make a show and slow us all down and someone needs to teach bike safety to everyone, helmets and safety jackets are fine and well but will only go so far in protection. As bad as our roads are today I’ve seen them worse and remember when there was no paved road, the most concern then were the rip tides, snakes and falling debris from the trees.
Happy Motoring.
There was paving equipment at Hone Creek this morning. They just spent last 2 days preparing surface.
Again.. until the asphalt is actually on the ground, I will not believe it. Equipment is not paved roads. However its an encouraging sign.
Colin…..why did MECA stop at Cocles? They told many of us (as you also previously stated) that they would got to PV and the other company would do Hone Creek to PV. One team has disappeared…arghhhhhhhh….Chiquita to Manzanillo is GREAT…..but PV to Cocles is still real bad.
You have been here longer then me… I will only commit to what I actually can see and touch.
Contrary to popular opinion, I do not have a red phone. I am just as in the dark about everything as everyone else.
well work is not finished… lets see what comes next week.
Great write up!
I have suffered much from hitting the “huecos” while riding my electric bike.
PLEASE car drivers, Do not run me into the ditch. The sides of the road are slippery with gravel and loose rocks. Just wait a minute until you can safely pass. please.
not sure if this is related, but
https://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=431573393264
i’ll believe it when i see it. the road from cocles to puerto still sucks. badly.
not sure if that link is accessible without a facebook account, so pasting here
Bacheo y asfaltado de carreteras se inicia la semana entrante, pero las empresas solo trabajarán medio tiempo
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Today at 4:29pm
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