San José -
Caldera
Instills Fear
Among Drivers
Driving on the
San José -
Caldera has
become a Russian
roulette, as
fallen rocks and
mudslides play
with people's
lives. In the
four months the
highway has been
opened there
have been
numerous
problems, which
are now
intensified with
the start of the
rainy season.
On Wednesday,
the highway was
completed closed
off for more
than two hours
and then only
with one lane
when it was
re-opened, to
allow for work
crews and
machinery to
clear the
debris.
The highway is
worst at night
as fallen rocks
on the roadway
cannot be seen
until last
minute.
 
Last night
(Wednesday) yet
another driver
was affected by
the rock fall,
as his vehicle
was hit by a
falling rock. On
Sunday a
motorcyclist hit
a gigantic rock
in the middle of
the road. The
driver suffered
injuries, while
the passenger
died in hospital
on Tuesday.
Early Wednesday
morning the San
José - Caldera
was closed off
completely
between Atenas
and Orotina due
to severe
mudslides on the
highway. By 10am
the road was
re-opened with "paso
regulado" (with
one lane open)
but was closed
again for more
mudslides at
different points
of the highway.
By 1pm, the road
was again
re-opened.
The problems of
Wednesday were
between
kilometres 45
and 47, causing
tremendous
congestion, many
drivers trapped
for hours.
The problems of
rocks falling
and mudslides
are primarily
between
kilometres 32
and 52, a 20
kilometre
stretch of road
between Atenas
and Orotina that
was carved out
of the
mountains.
The worst is at
night as the
majority of this
section of the
highway is not
illuminated.
The road
concessionaire,
Autopistas del
Sol, says that
the situation is
normal for a new
highway as it
faces its first
rainy season.
The Ministerio
de Obras
Públicas y
Transportes (MOPT)
is asking
drivers to be
extremely
careful when
travelling
through the
area.
Last night's
impact by the
rock occurred
around 9pm. The
driver said that
all he was given
was note by
Autopistas del
Sol to make a
claim for the
damage to the
windshield. said
he felt mocked.
MOPT
vice-minister,
María Lorena
López, assures
that Autopistas
is completely
responsible for
any damages
suffered on the
highway.
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