Update on the New Expressway-2.5 Hours to Jaco
The new San Jose to Caldera highway, which was opened to traffic on Wednesday, January 27, got its first real workout Saturday, when Ticos and visitors alike flocked to try out the new shortcut to the beach. Let's start with the good news. The surface is good. Nice and smooth. It's not as winding as before, either, much straighter. Some parts even have 4 lanes. Okay, now on to the rest of the story. 32 years of pent up demand may have caused the massive traffic jams. One reliable source said that there were massive, kilometer-long backups to get through the toll booths (he thought he counted four, but wasn't sure). Al Dia, the Costa Rican newspaper, reported delays of an hour.
This new highway is suppose to be safer and save some time driving from San Jose to the beach. I'll be curious to see if it actually does save time.
