One of the most anticipated road works for the Azuero population, the Chitré interchange, shows a general progress of 85%, with the main viaduct already 90% complete. Authorities project the work to be finished by the end of January and inaugurated in January 2026. During a recent technical inspection, significant advances were observed, mainly on the viaduct, which will connect the Circunvalación road with the two-lane highway towards the University of Panama, and could be enabled on December 30. Meanwhile, the tunnel or depressed underpass, which will allow a smoother connection between Chitré and Los Santos, will be opened later. The project, which began eight or nine years ago and suffered delays due to legal issues, has shown sustained progress in the last year after overcoming these hurdles.
The project was recently inspected by the Minister of Public Works along with local authorities. The mayor of Chitré, Juan Carlos Huerta, emphasized that once the viaduct and tunnel are enabled, it will be essential to reinforce traffic education and guidance by the Transit and Land Transport Authority, as these are types of roads to which drivers are not accustomed.
Furthermore, this project will directly benefit more than 200,000 inhabitants of the Azuero peninsula and nearby areas, generating jobs and boosting sectors such as transportation, tourism, and basic services.
