The Solís government continues to work on delayed infrastructure projects throughout the country, and is moving forward with two bridges in the Drake area of the Osa Peninsula, the biodiversity hotspot in Costa Rica’s southern Pacific region and home to Corcovado National Park, said the president’s office this week.

A program of the Office of the First Lady of the Republic called “Tejiendo Desarrollo,” which means weaving development, is funneling resources through the Institute for Rural Development (INDER) towards the road infrastructure projects over the Agujitas River and Drake River.

Besides allowing for greater tourist development in the remote jungle area, the bridges are a longstanding need of local residents and are a priority for the Territorial Development Council of the Osa Peninsula, said the president’s office.

Seasonal flooding of the Agujitas River causes several communities to be cut off every year including San Josecito, Caletas, Los Planes and Agujitas, among others. Currently, a rickety suspension bridge is used by the area’s 1,500 residents.

Construction of the Agujitas bridge has already been initiated by the Osa municipal government, which contributed 46 million colones (about US$79,000) towards the project to complement the 273 million colones (about US$470 thousand) in national funds.

On the Drake River, which also experiences seasonal flooding, a 45-meter-long bridge will also be jointly carried out by the INDER and the Municipality of Osa to connect the communities of Los Angeles and Agujitas.

This project involves a state investment of 540 million colones (about US$931,000) and a 178.6 million colon (about US$308,000) contribution from the Osa local government. Work over the Drake River will start in September 2017.

“The development of rural areas … must be linked to the priorities that their populations have. These bridges are an example of priority projects that have a direct impact on the quality of life of the inhabitants,” said President Solís.