Transportation officials announced early today a slight delay in the planned opening of three of the completely overhauled “Platina” bridge’s eventual six lanes.

The three lanes they had hoped to open today will be ready early next week, allowing more time for workers to fit and install the bridge’s five expansion joints, a very precise and time-consuming process, said Minister of Public Works and Transportation Carlos Villalta Villegas.

The Platina bridge, newly named the Alfredo González Flores bridge, is on the General Cañas highway and links San José over the Virilla River to westward and northern points including the Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) in Alajuela.

Once the three lanes open, Villalta said the ministry will regulate traffic in the following manner on a trial basis, and make modifications as needed if and when problems arise:

•  Two lanes will open every day in the direction of Alajuela – San José between 12 midnight and 12 noon, leaving one open in the opposite direction.
•  Conversely, from noon to 12 midnight, two lanes will be open every day in the direction of San José – Alajuela, leaving one open towards the capital.

The current restrictions in effect for vehicles during certain hours will be lifted once the three lanes enter into operation, with the exception of heavy trucks which are only allowed between 6:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. towards San Jose, and from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. towards Alajuela.

Expansion joints are the pieces that link or join each section of the bridge, and are responsible for uniting both the road surface to the bridge structure, and for linking both sides of bridge together. This is one of the critical parts of the reconstruction process, since the placement of these pieces brought from France must be done so they link together perfectly.

Stay tuned for more updates, and stay safe on the road.