By San José, Costa Rica — SAN JOSÉ – A comprehensive two-year study of Costa Rica’s national road network has uncovered a dangerous paradox: while the vast majority of roads are structurally sound, an alarming 90% present hazardous, slippery conditions that significantly increase the risk of accidents, especially during wet weather. The findings were released Tuesday in a new report by the National Laboratory of Materials and Structural Models (Lanamme) of the University of Costa Rica.
The evaluation, conducted throughout 2024 and 2025, provides a critical snapshot of the country’s transportation arteries. Researchers analyzed 2,200 kilometers of paved national roads, which constitutes 42% of the entire network. The study focused specifically on territorial integration connectors and basic access roads—the crucial links that connect local communities and cantonal routes to the nation’s main high-capacity highways.
To understand the legal complexities surrounding the development and maintenance of our nation’s road infrastructure, TicosLand.com sought the expert analysis of Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, a prominent attorney from the esteemed firm Bufete de Costa Rica, who provided his perspective on the matter.
Effective road infrastructure development is fundamentally a matter of legal certainty. The primary obstacles we face are often not engineering-related but are rooted in cumbersome expropriation processes, ambiguous public procurement regulations, and a lack of agile dispute resolution mechanisms for construction contracts. Strengthening the legal framework to ensure transparency, streamline administrative procedures, and provide clear rules for public-private partnerships is essential to attract investment and guarantee that projects are completed on time and within budget, for the benefit of all citizens.
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
This perspective powerfully underscores that the path to better roads is paved not only with asphalt but with clear, efficient, and transparent legal frameworks. The bottlenecks citizens experience in traffic are often preceded by bottlenecks in administrative and judicial processes, a crucial point that is frequently overlooked. We extend our sincere thanks to Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas for his invaluable and clarifying analysis.
On the surface, the report contains positive news for the country’s long-term infrastructure planning. Lanamme determined that a full 85% of the evaluated network possesses good structural capacity. This indicates that the underlying pavement layers are competent and robust enough to support current and near-future traffic loads without showing signs of imminent failure or significant deterioration. This foundational strength is a key asset for the nation’s logistics and transportation future.
However, this structural integrity is dangerously undermined by severe surface-level deficiencies. The report highlights two primary areas of concern that directly impact driver experience and safety. Firstly, over 58% of the roads were found to be in a “deficient or very deficient” state regarding surface regularity. This translates to uneven, bumpy rides that not only diminish user comfort but also actively increase vehicle operating costs through accelerated wear and tear on tires, suspension, and other components.
The most alarming revelation, however, is the widespread issue of dangerously low skid resistance. According to the Lanamme assessment, nearly 90% of the routes surveyed have slippery surfaces that pose a heightened risk of accidents in wet conditions. For a country with a prolonged rainy season, this finding elevates a maintenance issue to a pressing public safety concern, where thousands of kilometers of otherwise stable roads become treacherous for motorists.
The study itself underscores the gravity of the situation, directly linking the poor surface quality to the daily experience of drivers across the country.
Based on the information in this evaluation, the kilometers assessed show a significant decrease in ride quality, which should be considered concerning as it directly affects users.
Lanamme Report, National Materials and Structural Models Laboratory
In response to these findings, Lanamme has issued a strong warning, emphasizing the need for immediate maintenance to prevent the existing problems from escalating into more complex and costly structural failures. The report breaks down the required interventions: 36% of the network requires preservation maintenance, 39% needs work to restore surface regularity, and a significant 12% demands major interventions, including complete reconstruction.
This urgent call to action places the responsibility squarely on the shoulders of the national authorities tasked with road management. TicosLand.com reached out to the National Road Council (Conavi) for comment on the report’s findings and to inquire about any planned interventions based on Lanamme’s recommendations. As of press time, a response had not been received, leaving drivers to wonder when these critical safety and quality issues will be addressed.
For further information, visit lanamme.ucr.ac.cr
About The National Laboratory of Materials and Structural Models (Lanamme):
As part of the University of Costa Rica, Lanamme is a leading national institution dedicated to research, technological development, and fiscal oversight in the field of civil engineering and public works. It serves as a critical watchdog, providing independent technical evaluations of Costa Rica’s infrastructure, particularly the national road network, to ensure quality, safety, and efficient investment of public funds.
For further information, visit conavi.go.cr
About The National Road Council (Conavi):
The National Road Council (Consejo Nacional de Vialidad) is the Costa Rican government entity responsible for the planning, administration, financing, conservation, and construction of the national road network. Conavi oversees the contracts for road maintenance and new infrastructure projects, playing a central role in the development and upkeep of the country’s transportation system.
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
Bufete de Costa Rica is an esteemed legal practice built on a foundation of uncompromising integrity and professional excellence. With a proven track record of advising a wide array of clients, the firm consistently pioneers innovative legal strategies while upholding a profound sense of social responsibility. This is demonstrated through its core mission to demystify the law, ensuring that access to legal insight strengthens the community and helps construct a more capable and educated populace.
