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Traffic police announce changes to Cartago highway to protect pilgrims By
the A.M. Costa Rica staff
The Traffic Police and the National Road Council announced Wednesday a series of changes on the highway between the provinces of San José* and Cartago* to increase protection for pilgrims. As A.M. Costa Rica has been reporting, La Romería is a tradition that began with the Catholic community and has become one of the most important events of the year. Romería, which means pilgrimage, is a mass journey of the faithful to pay homage to La Virgen de Los Angeles at the Basilica* located in Cartago. The last report from the Basilica estimated that 2 million people walk to the church every year. The changes apply today and Friday as follow: - The toll collected know as peaje in the city of Tres Ríos* is suspended due to the high flow of vehicles going to the church in Cartago. - An extra lane was opened on the Florencio del Castillo highway to be used exclusively by pedestrians. That is a section of five kilometers between Tres Rios to the center of Cartago. - On Friday the plate prohibition regulation will not apply within the city of San José for drivers with cars with plates ending in 9 or 0 (zero) due to the holiday of the celebration of the Virgen de Los Angeles. The restriction rule was implemented to reduce the number of cars in the capital. But it does not apply for holidays or weekends. Under normal conditions the plate number restriction applies in San José from Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. The fine for disrespecting this measure is about $40. - The transit police will seize any skateboards, skates or bicycles because these are prohibited on the roadways that will be used by the pilgrims. - Controls will be increased to prevent pilgrims from walking near the construction area of the new viaduct located in Zapote*. That is the area known as the traffic circle of Monumento de Garantias Sociales*. The Traffic Police "call on pilgrims heading to Cartago to take extreme security measures when they cross that area," said the road council in its statement. According to the traffic police today and Friday there will be 270 of its officers controlling the mass journey of pilgrims. "Based on the experience of previous years, we expect a large mass of pilgrims this weekend," said German Marín-Sandí, director of the Traffic Police. "The goal is to protect and guide the pedestrians." ----------------------- Have you ever made the traditional pilgrimage to the Basilica in Cartago? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to: news@amcostarica.com |
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