Work starts on the Cinta Costera

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Before the official inauguration, work on the Cinta Costera began

Work begins on the Cinta Costera
photos by Eric Jackson

The Cinta Costera landfill and road project, by all expert opinions, will not solve Panama City's traffic congestion as the government promises. It will, by all accounts including the government's, make driving on Avenida Balboa for the next year and one-half or so more difficult.

The original plan was by an American company and called for a landfill in Panama Bay to be a green area of public parks on the capital's watefront. That has been changed into a road project, and surely once the thing is built there will be a mad scramble by developers for the real estate that the government says won't be for buildings.

The environmental impact study was the sort of joke that Aggie frat boys appreciate. It didn't even get into the source of the copious amounts of fill material and thus stands as a monument to the National Environmental Authority's pliability in these times. The contract went not to the low pre-qualified bidder, but the one with the best political connections.

No matter. It's full speed ahead --- unless you happen to be driving along Avenida Balboa.

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