Costa Rica's New Highway - Well on the way ...

Costa Rica Realtor - Jeff Hickcox in Atenas

Much has been reported about the "new highway" that runs between the port/beach town of Caldera on the Central Pacific coast and Costa Rica's capital city San José.

In fact, it has been somewhat of a running joke for 30 years among folks that live in the areas involved, and especially for those of us who work in real estate.

After going through decades of tangled bureaucracy, the highway project concession was granted in 2007 to the Spanish construction firm Autopistas Del Sol, and the progress has been staggering.

The advancement of the new highway is evident in Atenas and the excitement is building among residents. The city phase of the new toll highway in Escazú is now completed and the coastal phase in Orotina is already paved. There is an impressive amount of machinery rapidly paving the way from both ends and it looks like they may actually meet their deadline of opening in 2010.

Drainage in and ready for pavement

This road will make traveling in Costa Rica exponentially more convenient for residents and tourists alike. For residents, the highway puts our quaint agricultural town of Atenas a comfortable 30-minute drive to the Central Pacific beaches, and about 20 minutes to glamour shopping in Santa Ana and Escazú, CIMA Hospital, and the modern amenities and cultural attractions of the city.

Finishing drainage

For tourists, more day trips will not only be possible, but will be much more comfortable than the current route of winding mountain roads. This should spur a whole new boom in tourism as the average time one needs in order to see Costa Rica will be greatly reduced. The current average tourist stay in Costa Rica is 12 days, which is largely due to the fact that people need to account for road time to view the many wonders of Costa Rica. Now, a one-week stay, or even a long weekend can be realistically enjoyed.

Underpass and Overpass

The new highway will be fantastic for business as well. Transportation times and costs will be reduced, as well as offer large vehicles the highways that they need to travel safely. It should allow for more diversity of goods and services in previously remote areas. In addition, there is expected to be a large reduction in the number of traffic accidents that are currently caused by overburdened vehicles traveling on mountainous, narrow, poorly lit country roads.

Because of the expected new convenience of the highway, young professionals who are currently living and working in the city will be drawn to tranquil western Central Valley towns like Atenas. Safe areas around San José have become very expensive, especially if a young family desires a nice private yard or pool to enjoy. An estimated 20-minute commute from Atenas to San José will allow these professionals to live in a more peaceful setting with convenient access to their workplace.

View looking toward Atenas in Escobal

Large infrastructure projects like this highway tend to heap loads of investment potential on the areas that benefit from them. Location, location, location is important to all real estate investors and projects like these create a location opportunity for savvy investors. The towns expected to see the most benefit are Atenas, Ciudad Colon, Santa Ana, Orotina, and San Mateo.

The new San José - Caldera highway also presents a win-win situation for residents, tourists, and Costa Rican businesses. The completion of this major new infrastructure will offer important connections that will enhance Costa Rica's already surging interest among travelers and expats.

Asphalt Paving train

The only way to get these photos is by mountain bike or hiking. Many thanks to our colleague, Rodrigo Mendez, for trekking 40 kilometers on his mountain bike to get these wonderful photos. Readers can follow the progress of the San Jose/Caldera highway at the official Autopistas Del Sol highway website here.

Written by Jeff Hickcox and Terry Mills, our recommended Costa Rica Realtors for the Atenas area. If you would like to speak with them about buying Atenas real estate, please use the simple form below: