So, What Are We To Do Now?
Closing the San José – Caldera is perhaps a prudent move on the part of transport officials, but what are now to do, go back to the old road, the monte de Aguacate or the Cambronero? No way, I think I will stay home until they re-open ruta 27 completely.
Why you may ask?
Well, like a kid with shiny spanking brand new car, it is hard to go back to the old clunker. The San José – Caldera, although there have been numerous incidents, including one death due to the rock falls, it is still a great highway or at least a great road that can get you from the hearth of the country to the Pacific coast and points north and south in record time.
But, that’s not all, it is the fatigue and exhaustion of having wind through the Aguacate, especially the 7 kilometres from Atenas to San Mateo, which is a steep climb or descent, depending on your direction, that winds between the mountains. And lest not forget the steep drop and climb by the Rio Grande between Atenas and La Garita. And the almost to a standstill speed limit through Atenas and some of the smaller communities. And not to mention getting stuck behind a big truck or slow poke. Buses are Ok, because the drivers speed through the winding road, keeping the tire thread on the edge of the road all the time.
The Cambronero, though the climbs and descends are not as steep, is heavily transited and well, give me back the 27.
We can only hope that closure is temporary, maybe a couple of weeks or less. But, I am not holding my breath.
You see there are many who did not want this road in the first place. It took only 30 years to get it from the drawing board to actually paving the lines and the mudslides and rock falls are a great excuse, vindication if you will, for the detractors of progress.
I personally was on hand on January 27, 2010, as protestors blocked the road at Piedades, forcing the presidential caravan to weave through San Rafael de Alajuela for president Arias to make it to the ribbon cutting ceremony.
There are also those that want Autopistas del Sol to be thrown out, claiming this and that and the other. And then there is the tolls. ¢2.000 colones for a one way trip to save 30 minutes or more and wear and tear on the car and nerves? Too much, no?
I confess that driving between Atenas and Orotina I have had to be more careful, especially at night. But not so much of the mudslides and rock falls, but of the “idiot” drivers who use the cover of night not to turn on their lights, to drive at the 40 km/h minimum speed limit on the highway and to run into dividing walls and into the “cunetas”.
All in all I have driven the highway, from minutes before the ribbon was cut (followed the presidential motorcade and with a police escort at 120 km/h, before the new Ley de Tránsito) more than a dozen times in both directions. I have driven it at night, in the early hours of the morning and the in the middle of the day.
I have seen the rocks, the remnants of the debris that was cleaned up, but also the skid marks and the scrapes on the dividers.
The highway may have its problems, but the most dangerous part of the new highway and every highway, bi-way and road in Costa Rica is the “idiots” who call themselves drivers.
Please, Mr Jiménez re-open the road ASAP. Presidenta Chinchilla, I beg you don’t force me on the Aguacate. Autopistas make those changes and fast, I have change ripping a hole in my pockets for your toll operators!
Enrico Cacciatore, Editor at InsideCostaRica.com.
Thank you for expressing so well the frustrations that we all feel about the closure. I make the trip 3 or 4 times a year and used to white knuckle that old winding road holding my breath and hoping I would not meet sudden death around each hairpin turn.
Perhaps the road could be opened in daylight time only until the “bugs” are worked out. At least then we could see any rocks that may be getting in our way. I will be taking the trip to the coast in 3 weeks and my fingers are crossed that it will be again available for me and the thousands of visitors to this wonderful area.
Well said Rico – I agree with you. I hope that MOPT and Autopistas del Sol can come to agreement on both short and long term solutions. For the short term, shore up the sides, more lighting and be prepared to quickly clean the road of rocks. For the long term begin the process of acquisition of more right of way in the affected areas. The highway is a good idea; it seems reasonable to do the additional work to maximize safety on the road.
Letter To The Editor:
Mr. Cacciatore,
Thank you for the rebuttal of the “detractors of progress”. You have reaffirmed my observations of the road in question; as I pointed out several months ago in another newspaper. The problems of Ruta 27 are liken to a ‘pimple’ vs a ‘mountain’ when compared to Ruta 32.
Here in Costa Rica, as I have found in many other country’s, the basic problems are the “drivers”. Compounded of course by the politicans, who are astute to the whispers of the few, who are losing mucho colones daily (read that as ‘following the money trail’). I have read many comments of the accident, which a woman on a motorcycle died. I have yet to read about the driver’s blood test result; nor, how fast he was driving. Considering the manner in which many Costa Rican’s drive, I am amazed that we do not have a death rate equal to that of Egypt (where you DO NOT want to rent a car).
On the bright side, I am glad that here in Costa Rica that people, like yourself, can print comments contrary to ‘public opinion’; without having a “target” painted on your back (as in several other Centro America countries). I, too, look forward to the reopening of Ruta 27.
Cordially,
E.J. Hauser
Puntarenas, Orlando, Caracas, David.
Are we to understand that one mans time and driving effort is more important than the lives of the people of Costa Rica? It would seem that someone has not yet learned the meaning of “Pura Vida.”
This highway was not built as per the agreement between Autopistas and Costa Rica. As I understand it the highway was to be a four lane. It is not.
Autopistas has been completely unreasonable in their operation of the toll booths, not allowing emergency vehicles the right to drive through during an emergency.
Another example of their “who cares” attitude is the accident where the woman on the motorcycle died after crashing into a huge boulder that had rolled into the ill designed highway. Her life could possibly have been saved had she been taken to the hospital in a timely manner.
Autopistas insisted that the Cruz Roja ambulance, which responded quickly and had already loaded her into their ambulance, could NOT take her to the hospital because they, Autopistas, had their own ambulance. Thus wasting valuable time and possibly causing the loss of a life.
Greed, whether it be for money, power, or for someones “convenience” is what has brought about the problems of this world.
Give credit where credit is due.
I am extremely proud of the “powers that be” for closing this highway and I hope they keep it closed until it is made safe.
Please allow me to bend my mind around what has been said by others in their responses.
The Autopistas have their own ambulance? Where is it stationed? What is the response time? Where does the CAJA come in if you are injured. Will it pay for; I AM SURE, the fees for using their ambulance?
Why are the Autopistas group not opening the highway, as suggeted, in the daylight, and working to better serve the public & tourist industry which we living in Costa Rica use as our standard bearer to get foreign money and tourists.
And lastly, Who designed this 2 lane to 4 lane, back to 2 lane thrill ride. Between dodging rocks, other swerving drivers, people on the road trying to get across, and paying high fees for these “pleasures of the road to Jaco/San Jose,” I feel violated every time I pay a toll.
I think the design & construction firms that built this road, should be made to pay for the rework on this money pit paved disaster, and future projects such as this should require LARGE BONDS for the companies doing the work or design.
Hit them where it hurts; THEIR WALLETS!! You will see an improvement in the quality of work, and better designs.
Why is it such a secret as to who operates the toll road? How many Costa Ricans are involved in the subsidiary of the operator?
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