Costa Rica Reopens Highway in 6 Hours After Landslide

When falling debris blocked Costa Rica's main highway to the Caribbean coast Friday morning, crews didn't waste a minute getting people moving again.

Route 32, the vital connection between San José and the port city of Limón, reopened at 3:03 p.m. after workers cleared earth and rocks that had tumbled onto the road through Braulio Carrillo National Park. The closure began at 8:35 a.m., meaning teams tackled the dangerous cleanup in just over six hours.

The Ministry of Public Works and Transport deployed machinery and workers to assess the unstable slopes and remove material from several affected points near kilometers 23 and 24. Despite ongoing rain and the risk of additional slides, crews worked through challenging conditions in the steep, heavily forested terrain.

The closure disrupted travel between the Central Valley and Caribbean communities including Guápiles, Siquirres and Limón. Route 32 carries not just local traffic but also a large share of trucks traveling to and from Costa Rica's main port area, making the quick response critical for both people and commerce.

The Bright Side

What could have been a multi-day disruption turned into a same-day success story thanks to rapid coordination and skilled crews. While rain continued to fall and traffic delays stretched into the evening, the highway remained open, allowing backed-up vehicles to reach their destinations.

Workers cleared the road knowing that saturated slopes could send more material tumbling with little warning. The National Meteorological Institute had warned that rain would continue through the day in mountainous areas, but that didn't slow the response.

Officials asked drivers to stay patient as long lines began moving and urged everyone to respect speed limits through the mountainous section. By 5 p.m. local time, no additional closures had been announced, though authorities continued monitoring conditions overnight.

The reopening shows how infrastructure teams have learned to respond quickly to the challenges of maintaining roads through Costa Rica's dramatic mountain terrain, where heavy rain and steep slopes regularly test the vital connection between the capital and the coast.