The Costa Rican government assures that the road infrastructure projects are being executed according to the established schedule and that the announced plans for the next few months remain in place.
Directors of the Ministry of Public Works and Transport (MOPT), reported that in the context of the health crisis and with the aim of reviving the economy, it is essential that the planned road works are carried out.
Due to the health alert facing Costa Rica, the China Harbor Engineering Company decided to lay off 180 employees working on the Route 32 expansion project, which has already fallen behind on previous occasions.
In December 2019, it was reported that the Asian construction company asked the National Road Council (Conavi) for a 400-day extension to deliver the 107-kilometer extension, which connects the Rio Frio intersection with downtown Limon.
Due to delays caused by situations beyond the control of China Engineering Company, the Costa Rican authorities agreed to postpone by 174 days the delivery of the work to expand Route 32.
Initially the China Engineering Company (CHEC), asked the National Road Council (Conavi) for an extension of 400 days to deliver the extension of 107 kilometers, which connects the crossing to Rio Frio with the center of Limon, however, the authorities only agreed to delay for 174 days, therefore, the work would be delivered no later than March 2021.
In keeping with tradition in Costa Rica, only three companies have been awarded contracts for routine road maintenance for 19 out of the 22 conservation areas, with contracts totalling $24 million.
The three companies that were awarded the contracts are Anamarcala, with 13 contracts, Fresa Fresca, with two contracts in Guanacaste and Also Frutales, with four contracts.
In Costa Rica a contract has been awarded to the company Horizontes to install protective barriers and signs on a stretch of 15 kilometers from the Florencio del Castillo Highway and on Route 252.
The National Highway Council (CONAVI) announced that the beginning of construction is scheduled for November and the works will be completed in 90 days.
From a statement issued by the Ministry of Public Works and Transport:
The National Roads Authority will be receiving proposals from private and public banks to administer the trust for the construction of the road from San Jose to San Ramon.
The banks involved have a week to present their proposals, later the National Highway Council (CONAVI) will evaluate the experience of the entities in the administration of trusts and a assessment will be made of the commission for recovery.
In Costa Rica protests are being made against a decision by the Ministry of Public Works to segment road maintenance works into only three contracts, limiting the participation of more companies.
After a meeting with representatives of the sectors who are concerned about the measure, the National Highway Council (CONAVI) announced that it will review the specifications of the tender with the aim of expanding the division of work.
The signing of a trust by President Solis marks the beginning of the preparation of the tenders for the design and construction of the 69 kilometer road between San Jose and San Ramon.
For the creation of the trust between the banking entities and the National Roads Council they took into account state banks, pension operators and the National Insurance Institute.
In the tender for road safety equipment to cover for 15 kilometers of road three companies submitted offers between $2.8 and $3.2 million.
The proposals in the tender for protective barriers on a 15 kilometer stretch of road on the Florencio del Castillo Highway were submitted by: Codocsa, with an offer of $3.6 million, Hernan Solis, with $1.05 million and Horizontes de Vías y Señales, with a proposal of $2.3 million.
In Costa Rica changes have been made to the specifications of tenders for road maintenance works, which now include an option for small businesses to bid for works that do not require specialized equipment.
Until October 31st draft documents will be available for public consultation so that interested companies can send comments and suggestions to the Road Safety Council.
In Costa Rica changes have been announced in the institution in charge of maintenance of road infrastructure in the country and greater openness in the process of awarding contracts in order to include more companies.
The current Consejo Nacional de Vialidad, Conavi, (National Roads Authority) will become Instituto Nacional de Infraestructura (National Infrastructure Institute), as announced by the new head of the institution, Maurice Salom.
In the waning days of an administration marked by scandals and inefficiencies in infrastructure, the rush to execute contracts is notorious, and there are even extensions being given out without tenders or bids.
Residents of the capital San Jose seem puzzled over how resurfacing works are to be carried out on streets that are apparently in good condition.
Five Costa Rican construction companies have submitted a joint proposal to take over the expansion to four lanes of 107 miles of kilometers to the Caribbean.
The companies, Codocsa, Desarrollos Mega, Pedregal, Productos de Concreto and Traesa submitted a joint proposal for the expansion to four lanes of the Rio Frio to Limón stretch on Route 32. They did not mention the cost or method of financing, but claim they are charging less than the amount proposed by China Harbour Engineering Company.
Complaints have been made that the bill awarding construction of the Caribbean route to a Chinese company was approved without preliminary drawings, calculation of materials and study of costs.
Grupo Consenso believes that it is "unacceptable" that the Committee on Financial Affairs agreed to accept as reasonable the cost presented by China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC), in the amount of $465 million.
Spanish, Chinese and Costa Rican companies submitted bids for the expansion to four lanes of a 1.7 kilometer stretch of urban road.
The National Roads Authority (Conavi) received six bids for the proposed expansion and renovation of National Route 3, located from the intersection of the factory in Pozuelo Uruca to Jardines del Recuerdo at the Valencia de Heredia.