When I heard that they were going to expand one of the short spans of highway - note highway, in no way is this a freeway - into three lanes both ways, I thought, well that will be something. Thus it has begun.

Lanes are narrowed into one, bulldozers come inches from plopping dirt on people or cars, and men work terribly close to it all. This strip of highway leads from the highly populated suburbs of Santa Ana and Escazu into downtown San José. Exits shoot off to other highway loops to the east and north and south suburbs of La Uruca and Hatillo.

It’s really lucky thing there’s even the room to conceive of another lane. Many areas are squeaked so tightly between canyons, rivers, and gorges, it would be almost impossible to build.

THEY say seven months. At first I didn’t believe it, but at the rate these guys work, it might just happen. I can see the new road taking shape as mountains sides are literally chiseled away. It shall be a sight to see. Plus we might actually get some exit and entrance ramps where you don’t feel like you’re jumping off the cliff every time you merge. This is exciting stuff for us.

So if you want to see a “developing” country in action, come take a look. Just be sure to give yourself enough time in case there’s a traffic jam.