The recent emergency recorded at the Bridge of the Americas not only affected residents of the capital and the West sector but has also had direct repercussions on transportation from the interior of the country, especially on routes such as Chitré–Panama. According to transporters, delays caused by vehicular congestion have significantly altered travel times. Luis Castillero, leader of the transport sector, indicated that trips that normally took around four to five hours now take longer, affecting the planning of both users and transporters. Likewise, the increase in travel time has generated higher fuel consumption in the units, which raises operating costs in a context already impacted by rising prices, Castillero assured. Another visible effect has been the decrease in the number of passengers, as many users choose to postpone their travels due to the inconvenience of prolonged delays. Transporters stated that this situation not only affects the service's operation but also generates a chain economic impact, affecting both the transport sector and users. In this context, they called for understanding and patience from the population while traffic normalizes on this important national connection route.
