Panama highway project sees costs climbing

The cost of a highway project in Panama has increased significantly since the work was first awarded. Much of the higher price for the work is due to the installation of additional safety measures.

June 7, 2017 Read time: 1 min

The cost of a highway project in Panama has increased significantly since the work was first awarded. Much of the higher price for the work is due to the installation of additional safety measures.The project involves widening a stretch of the Inter-American highway to four lanes between David and Santiago de Veraguas and is now expected to cost US$1.19 billion to complete.

However when Panama’s Ministry of Public Works (MOP) awarded the contract in 2013 the project was expected to cost $1.08 billion. The new safety improvements include building additional pedestrian bridges and improving drainage.

Road Structures Finance & Funding

MOP in Panama plans US$700mn road tender for mid-2013

The Ministry of Public Works (MOP) in Panama will put the rehabilitation and expansion of the 208km Santiago de Veraguas-David road out to tender in mid-2013. The works, part of which will create a larger four-lane highway, have been calculated to cost around US$ 700 million. Since 2009, President Ricardo Martinelli has contracted turn-key projects worth $3.4 billion.

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Expanding the Panamericana Oestae Highway in Panama

The precast beams were built onsite and transported to different points using internal lanes (image courtesy of Public Works Ministry of Panama (MOP))

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Panama's planned projects

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