Costa Rica's Transport Ministry announced that paving of the Costanera Sur highway should be completed by the end of 2009. The long awaited project covers the 26 mile stretch between Quepos and Dominical, and will open the Southern Pacific Coastal zone to people visiting the highly popular areas Manuel Antonio and Jaco.
The Costanera Sur already has been graded. That was a $17.7 million job that included installing drainage systems and new bridges. The final paving is in two contracts. The job between Savegre and Quepos is about 19 kilometers (about 13 miles) and will cost $16.4 million. The section from Savegre to Dominical is 22.6 kilometers (about 14 miles). The contract is for $15.5 million. In both sections the workers will install a 30-centimeter (12-inch) sub base, a 20-centimeter (eight-inch) base and a 13-centimeter (5.1-inch) road surface.