No free ride on Canals fourth bridge

Using the fourth bridge over the Panama Canal will speed up travel to the interior or heading into  the country’s capital, but it will come at a cost for motorists.

To avoid compromising the national budget and increasing the nation’s debt the $1,4 billion construction will be financed through tolls administered by the government-owned National Highway Company (ENA).

“The construction will generate employment, and improvement in the economy over the next five years, “said the deputy minister of Public Works, Erich Velásquez on Tuesday, September 25.

For this, a bond restructuring will be done, which works as a refinancing of debt at a time when ENA revenues exceed $118 million.

“We could also talk about an additional financing of up to $600 million by the State through the budget, “said  Víctor Rodríguez, finance director of the Ministry of Economy and Finance.