UNESCO heading to Panama to discuss Cinta Costera extension

A Unesco (UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) mission will be in Panama October 12 to discuss the issue of the third phase of the Cinta Costera.

According to Sandra Cerrud, director of the Historical Heritage body, it will be  the time for Panama to submit  a progress report on the three options for extending the coastal strip. The  options are a viaduct, a road  surrounding the waterfront and a tunnel.

The executive is  believed to favor a viaduct linking a Avenida Balboa with Avenida de los Poetas but, said Cerrud, they have an obligation to produce the feasibility and environmental impact studies and the effect on the heritage of the three options. 

"Panama is committed to deliver all three studies  to the World Heritage Committee of Unesco and not to start any construction in the Old Town of San Felipe, until the committee has received them." said Cerrud.
Other construction, not related to the third phase, which has no impact on the outstanding historical value can proceed.
 In June Panama promised Unesco that work on the third phase of the coastal strip would be suspended until a team of experts had reviewed the options.