Traffic Through
Cambronero Down
Up To 70%,
Retailers Say
While most Costa
Ricans are
taking advantage
of the new San
José - Caldera
highway, another
group is
absorbing the
economic loss of
their activity
on the old road
to Puntarenas,
with the drop in
traffic between
San Ramón and
the port city,
has led to
layoffs and some
closures.
The
Interamericana
highway was the
main route
between San José
and Puntarenas
and Guanacaste.
The heavy
traffic on the
road meant a
boom in business
that grew from
small fruit
stands to full
service
restaurants. The
competition was
fierce. Those
who where there
first, stayed
ahead. But now,
it all matters
for not.
So, what is to
become of the
many locales
along the
highway?
Some are being
converted into
discos, some are
completed
closed, while
others are
operating, but
with a smaller
staff and
smaller sales.
The section of
the road between
San Ramón and
Esparza, known
as the
Cambronero, is
now used mainly
by trucks and
buses (and those
who refuse to
pay tolls on the
San José -
caldera) to and
from the Central
Valley.
Although traffic
volume is
reduced, the
road is not
deserted, as
road is still
the best option
for traffic from
many parts west
of the Central
Valley to the
Pacific ocean.
For those living
in Grecia,
Atenas and San
Ramón, for
instance, it
doesn't make
sense to travel
back to San José
to then take the
new Caldera
route.
Retailers along
the old route
estimate that
traffic is down
up to 70%.
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