OAS Assembly and Bicentennial Congress Force Suspension of Works on Israel Avenue and Bridge of the Americas

Road maintenance and improvement projects on Israel Avenue and the Bridge of the Americas in Panama have been temporarily halted by the Ministry of Public Works (MOP). This precautionary measure is in response to strict institutional security protocols implemented for the Amphictyonic Congress and the General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS), which are currently taking place in the capital.

These international events, commemorating their bicentennial, have brought numerous heads of state and official delegations to Panama. The planned interventions on Israel Avenue, specifically the resurfacing of the road section between 68th and 71st East streets, were scheduled for nighttime hours between 9:00 p.m. and 4:00 a.m. These tasks, part of a larger project to study, design, construct, and rehabilitate roads in the district of Panama, would have necessitated complete road closures and significant traffic diversions. These disruptions are now indefinitely postponed.

Similarly, activities planned for the Bridge of the Americas, involving the installation of flags on the section leading from Panama Oeste to the capital, which required partial lane closures during nighttime, have also been postponed. These decisions were made for logistical reasons and to maintain public order during the high-profile international gatherings.

The MOP has stated that a new schedule for these road works will be communicated in due course, once the official agendas of the international summits have concluded. The suspension aims to ensure the smooth and secure execution of the diplomatic events without the complications of major road construction.