Preliminary work begins on 192km Pan-American Highway West rehabilitation in Panama

Preliminary work has commenced on a major project to rehabilitate 192 kilometers of the Pan-American Highway West in Panama. Initial tasks include cleaning drainage systems, bridges, and green areas, along with pothole repairs along various sections of the route. This phase is part of a larger initiative that will extend from Loma Campana in Panama Oeste to the province of Veraguas.

Minister of Public Works José Luis Andrade announced that these activities mark the pre-construction phase, which is slated to last one year before major interventions begin. "We are in the first year, initiating work that includes environmental impact, design, securing financing, and road maintenance," Andrade explained during a tour in the Penonomé district.

This project is structured as a Public-Private Partnership (APP), similar to the Eastern Pan-American Highway APP. It represents the government's second such initiative for road improvement. The total investment is estimated at $312 million, with a 20-year timeline encompassing one year of pre-construction, three years of construction, and 15 years of maintenance.

Planned improvements include the addition of new U-turns, modernized road signage, installation of video surveillance systems, and weigh stations. The rehabilitation also covers existing bridges along the stretch. The contract model incorporates performance indicators that will hold the responsible company accountable for maintaining the road in optimal condition throughout the maintenance period, with penalties for failures.

Currently, five work crews are deployed across sectors such as Campana, San Carlos, Penonomé, Divisa, and Santiago, carrying out cleaning and repair tasks. Concurrently, design work and environmental impact assessments are progressing. The Ministry of Public Works anticipates that the project will create over 2,000 direct jobs and approximately 4,000 indirect jobs during its construction phases, aiming to modernize Panama's primary road network and enhance connectivity.