Costa Rica launches $764 million San José-San Ramón highway expansion

The Costa Rican Ministry of Public Works and Transport (MOPT) has officially opened the international bidding process for the expansion and improvement of the San José-San Ramón road corridor. This major infrastructure project, described by officials as the largest in the country's history, aims to address a decades-long backlog in modernizing this vital route.

The project follows a “turnkey” modality, covering the design, construction, equipment, and maintenance of 55.6 kilometers of National Route 1, stretching from the vicinity of La Sabana to San Ramón, along with 4.45 kilometers of the Río Segundo radial. The initiative is intended to increase traffic capacity, reduce congestion, and improve safety for commuters traveling between the Greater Metropolitan Area and the western region.

Financing for the project is estimated between $764 million and $770 million, provided through loans from the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (BCIE) and the OPEC Fund for International Development. Because of these funding sources, the bidding process follows BCIE procurement policies rather than local public procurement systems. Interested companies have until April 21, 2027, to submit offers, with the adjudication process expected to conclude in the first half of 2027.