2011 will be a bad year for Panama drivers

From the Sidelines
If you enjoyed last Thursday’s massive traffic jam when electricity and other cables blocked Calle 50, you can look forward to more fun next year.
Hidden under the cloak of good news comes the promise of more pain, lots more, on the road to improvement.
Minister of Works Federico José Suárez has promised that “in a few years” Panama will have a world class transportation system, but on the way to nirvana we can expect “some disruptions” as they build the promised new intersections and finally complete work on the North Corridor.
The construction of the new metro train line will also lead to road closings.

Now The Public Services Authority (ASEP) has approved four projects for burying the overhead wires that create visual pollution and, as last week proved, produce traffic chaos when they fall.
Wires are set to disappear from sight on Calle 50, Via Brazil, Via Espana and Federico Boyd Avenue.
Other lucky residents will also get a visual clean up in the Colon Free Zone, the central avenue of Santiago de Veraguas, and fourth street in David Street , Chiriquí.

The investment, totals $ 38.2 million and will be implemented by the utilities in each zone. And paid for through your electricity bill.
Asep and Union Fenosa said the impact on electricity bills would be minimal, "fractions of a cent," Which poses the question”Why have they waited so long?

Sebastian Perez, manager of Distribution of Union Fenosa, said the work will start from January next year.

All of this will coincide with adapting the streets for the new urban buses, and could see the start of work on the overpasses and of course the anticipated Metro train line snaking across the city above and below ground.
Federico Suárez, said Sunday (July 4) that with all these projects "There will be complications" in transit, but we will have contingency plans … like working at night.”
If you happen to live in the construction areas, it might be time to head for the hills.

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