Drivers Call For The Heads of MOPT &  CONAVI Officials For Being Incompetent

Drivers and analysts are united in the belief tha the officials of the Ministerio de Obras Públicas y Transportes (MOPT) and the Consejo Nacional de Vialidad (CONAVI) shoudl resign for failing to resolve the problems of the "platina" (virilla) bridge and the sinking of the autopista General Cañas.



A Telenoticias (local channel 7 news crew) took an informal poll of drivers on Friday, all expressing the same sentiment, that heads should roll.

The sentiment is shared by sociologist and political scientist like José Carlos Chinchilla who said during the evening news broadcast that the MOPT has failed the people in keeping in good condition an important national route like the General Cañas.

The expert's opinion coincides with that of many drivers in that the MOPT and CONAVI (a department of the MOPT) is filled with incompetents.



Another sentiment expressed by many is that Costa Ricans should be more demanding of the government, this should be manifested in the streets and by way of the social networks.

Costa Ricans, in general, are pacific and accept the level of service - or lack thereof - by their government, which leads to mediocre standards.

Meanwhile, tens of thousands of drivers daily have to live through the nightmare called "the autopista General Cañas" - Ruta 1 - the most transited route in the country and the main route to and from San José and the international airport.


Try as they might, they just can't get this bridge fixed!

The problems on the Ruta 1 are not limited to the General Cañas portion. West of the airport the route is called the Bernardo Soto and then Cambronero and then the Interamericana Norte to Nicaragua.

From the airport to the Manolo's the road is one of the most dangerous, especially during the past year of reconstruction, that leaves a blacktop at night with no signals or warnings. West to Naranjo and San Ramón it gets a little better, but not very much, as the road lacks signage, painted lines and is full of potholes.

From San Ramón to Puntarenas, there are some sections that are better than others. At the top of the mountain past San Ramón, in the are of the Cambronero, there are section where the road has been repaved after landslides, but as usual no painted lines and no warning signs of the dangers that lie beneath the wheels. And lets not forget the sinking that occurred more than a decade ago and has never been properly rebuilt.

All in all, the Ruta 1 is not a road that you want to take unless you really have to. And should not drive at night under any circumstances.