New Costa Rica Highway Brings Business to Southern Pacific Zone

Could it be – the long-awaited Costanera Highway improvements from Quepos to Dominical are finally happening?

It’s true, it’s happening, and it means more business development for the Southern Pacific Zone.

It also means an end to back pain, jarred bones, and car damage from driving over the notorious potholes, mud pits, rocks, washouts, ditches and roadblocks that comprised this infamous section of the Costanera – surely the worst section of highway in the country.

The construction activity along the 39 kilometer stretch from Quepos/Manuel Antonio National Park to the beach town of Dominical is a hot topic of conversation in The Southern Pacific Zone.

Many people are looking forward to faster travel time, hoping to cut the 90 minute trip to about 25 minutes. Zipping up to Manuel Antonio for dinner now is within the realm of possibility.

Bridges have been rebuilt. Dozens of bulldozers, backhoes, pickup trucks and other heavy vehicles are dumping and smoothing tons of rocks and earth. Heaps of dirt and gravel are piled in the road, awaiting the machines.

Detours around the construction sites are common, but nobody is complaining. The much-needed new highway has been just a rumor for 20 years. Some people consider this stretch of the Costanera Highway the “missing link” to development in the Southern Pacific Zone.

Real estate agents shudder at memories of the difficult drive to show properties. “The bumpy road made some older customers feel uncomfortable, even painful. Plus we had to take care not to endanger them,” says Sean McGraw. “These trips were costly in time and car maintenance. We had to drive with windows up to avoid the dust and mud – imagine that without air conditioning.”

“One time I was hung up for one whole weekend at Hatillo River in a roadblock of drivers protesting the bad road conditions,” McGraw says.

John Wieland, executive vice president of Coldwell Banker Vesta Group, predicts that the new, improved Costanera will boost an already – healthy increase in real estate values. Buyers will discover thriving towns and communities near properties for sale, he says.

“We are already seeing more sales activity along this corridor. A whole new market is emerging. Overall, customers will get more products to choose from,” Wieland says.

Enaid Savage, managing broker for Coldwell Banker Vesta Group Dominical/Ojochal, foresees a surge in new business establishments.

“The Costanera improvements will bring a critical mass of people, and entrepreneurs will provide goods and services that were previously unavailable in the area. Those of us who were pioneers can’t wait!” she says.

Developer Bob Klenz says that the bad road has hurt sales of his project just off the Costanera, north of Dominical.

“Sales were slow. But now with the new road coming in, we are getting more activity. We are getting calls from Jaco real estate brokers looking for big farms for sale. Sales are definitely picking up,” Klenz says.

The Matapalo and Portalon areas will experience a big surge in the next few years, and good deals exist, Klenz says. For example, farms listed for $2.8 million would go for $15 million in Guanacaste.

“Brokers and customers from Quepos and Jaco who are looking for new opportunities should check out this area. It’s one of the last frontiers in Costa Rica,” Klenz says. “Land prices will rise faster than in Guanacaste; values will more than double in the next two years, he predicts.”

Klenz has 17 lots still available in his 27-lot project north of Dominical. The lots are two to 15 acres and are listed for $175,000 to $375,000. He also offers a 480-acre property for $2.8 million.

Carlos Acosta, director of the Costanera improvements for the public works and transportation ministry (MOPT), says the first phase of road construction began in July. It consists of building up the road 1.5 meters-to-two meters higher with gravel and earth. The height is needed to prevent flooding from rivers, as has occurred in the past.

The new highway will be two lanes, although it appears wider.

Shoulders two meters wide on each side of the highway will accommodate bikes and pedestrians, Acosta says.

Phase One will be completed in two years at a cost of $17 million. Phase Two will consist of paving and marking the new road. It will take about one year to complete and cost about $15 million, Acosta says.

MOPT is currently concentrating on the highway along Portalon, Matapalo, Hatillo, Naranjo, Parrita and Paquita. The bridges in Parrita and Paquita will have bicycle lanes. A 1.5-kilometer section of entirely new highway is being constructed just south of the Savegre River – rerouted inland from the present road.

The new highway bodes well for real estate agents all over Costa Rica. The Southern Pacific Zone contains vast tracks of verdant, vacant land, priced lower than in most other areas of the country.

[custom_script adID=97]

If you have ever dreamed of living in a place that’s as close to a tropical paradise as you can find … Please contact our Recommended Costa Rica Realtors James Drews, Daveed Hollander and John Wieland in the Southern Pacific area, by using the simple form below:

Andrew Makarik

to@welovecostarica.com

Andrew Makarik is the main editor of WeLoveCostaRica, a fan of this sunny country. He is also a loving husband and a has a lovely daughter. By being a devoted family man and the biggest Costa Rica fan, he wants to make more people feel at home there. WeLoveCostaRica unites people and helps them find new home or a new travel destination. This website is a friendly community where everyone can find not only information, but also new friends and travel pals. Andrew is also passionate about IT and programming, so he himself maintains a friendly atmosphere in this cozy environment of WeLoveCostaRica.com.