Travel on the Interamericana Norte (Ruta 1), the main route to Guanacaste and Nicaragua, will be closed for at least the next three days, as raging waters of the Seco river washed out the road pavement at and near the bridge, located near Miramar, Puntarenas.

Shortly after 8pm Wednesday night the Seco river overflowed its banks while a tractor trailer was crossing the bridge. Fortunately the driver of the truck was able to escape from the cab as his truck was washed away by the raging waters.

The Policía de Tránsito immediately closed off the road.

The raging waters of the heavy rains of the last few days also lifted the asphalt in the vicinity of the bridge, about 20 minutes away from the the city of Puntarenas.

Francisco Jiménez, the ministro de Obras Públicas y Transportes (MOPT), announced temporary the closure Wednesday night, saying that a better assessment of the damage and work required would be made this morning with the light of day.

With the closure of the Interamericana at Mirmar means the only alternate routes for travel to and from Guanacaste and the Central Valley is by way of San Carlos and Tilarán.

That route entails travelling to Arenal, La Fortuna and San Ramón, adding hours to travel to and from Guanacaste.

The problems on the bridges of the Interamericana are no surprise. Last February a report indicated that at least seven bridges on the route are in need or urgent repair and maintenance.

According to an analysis of Consultoría y Construcció ompany in the province of Puntarenas four structures presented “an imminent threat of vehicular passage”. One was the Seco river bridge.

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