Autopista General Cañas Closed To Tuesday

The autopista General Cañas is closed. And it will be so until 5am Tuesday, the Consejo Nacional de Vialidad (CONAVI) announced on Friday, with the total closure occurring at 10pm last night.


The photo released to the media shows a line the water level on Wednesday.

The closure is due to heavy rains falling on Mother's Day (Wednesday, August 15) causing damage to the ongoing work to construct a tunnel between the autopista, in repair of the sinkhole occurring at the end of June.



The soil beneath the autopista surface became distorted, forcing CONAVI officials on Thursday to close one of the eastbound (Alajuela - San José) lanes, forcing the CONAVI to take immediate action due to the inherent risk.

CONAVI officials decided that a Bailey structure - it would be the third at the location, the other moving San José - Alajuela traffic were installed at the beginning of last month - forcing a total closure of the road between La Castella (west of the Virilla bridge) to the Orlich bridge, in front of the Plaza Real Cariari.

The closure that began last night will continue until 5am Tuesday.

However, there is the real possibility that the closure may be longer, depending on the weather conditions.

The CONAVI says the work of installing a third bridge will not affect the projected budget and timing for the repairs, which are expected to be completed before the end of the year.

Heavy vehicles are being rerouted on the Ruta 27, as the roads on the Heredia alternate are not wide enough to handle long and wide vehicles, nor the volume of traffic.



The recommendation is to totally avoid the area and if traveling to and from west of San José to Heredia, Alajuela and beyond best to allow for more travel time and be armed with patience and a full tank of gas.

The closure greatly affects transfers to and from the airport and San José. Visitors with outbound flights should allow at least one hour more in the plans to get to the airport.

Editor's note: This closure of the General Cañas is only one of a series of problems and a source of traffic chaos and frustration for drivers over the last few years, all beginning with the first notice of the gap on the Virilla bridge - the Puente Platina. And only gotten worse since.