New plan to protect Panamas World Heritage site

An alternative plan for the extension of the Cinta Costera, that would enable Panama’s Casco Viejo to retain it’s World Heritage classification, has been unveiled.

A group of preservationists and other concerned about the impact of the third phase  of the coastal strip  on the old city  have produced an option to counter two plans being considered by the government.

The government options currently being considered are a tunnel under or a bypass around the Casco Viejo area.

Both alternatives have been criticized UNESCO as threatening the area;s, which has designation as  a World Heritage Site.
The new option, which was designed by architects on behalf of Avaca (Asociación de Vecinos y Amigos del Casco Antiguo and the Fundación Calicanto, calls for the construction of roads that would skirt the edge of the protected area. It proponents claim it would not only  protect the old city, but also be less costly.
The three parts plans suggests he first stretch of highway would connect Avenida Balboa with the Avenida de los Mártires. This section would include a much smaller tunnel than the one envisaged by plans considered by the government. It would be a 350-meter tunnel from Avenida 3 de Noviembre until the Avenida de los Mártires. 
The second component would be composed of "slow avenues." Onerunning from the end of phase two of the Cinta Costera to Calle 12 and then the Avenida de los Poetas.
The last stage would be the construction of severaltreets within San Felipe, El Chorrillo and Santa Ana. and the construction of underground parking lost along avenidas A and B.