For several decades Panama has maintained a high level of construction projects, both public and private. Panama City is now one of the most modern cities in Central America with a beautiful skyline similar to Miami in the United States. Currently two megaprojects are underway, (e.g., the expansion of the Panama Canal and the construction of the first phase of a subway system). Both public works are planned to be completed by the year 2014; just in time for the celebration of the centennial of the Panama Canal.
If you have recently traveled to Panama City, you have certainly noticed the construction frenzy. Everywhere you go within the perimeter of the city, thousands of construction workers are working like honey bees. There is a construction boom going on, the largest in magnitude since the foundation of the nation. Sometimes I feel like a tourist in my own town. There are new housing projects in Chorrera and Arraijan I have never been before, and probably never will.
In order to capture history in progress, I went to the construction site of the subway system on the Transisthmian Highway. I want to compare this site with the same site after the subway is finished. The comparison will be dramatic. This is a project that will greatly improve our mass transportation in the metropolitan area. I’m very proud of how our country is modernizing its infrastructure.
Snapshot of the construction of the Panama subway which is scheduled to be completed by the end of the year 2014. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.
The Panama subway will consist of three main branches. The first one will connect Los Andes with Albrook Bus Terminal (Northern Branch). The second one, will connect Chepo (Eastern Branch) with the same terminal. The third and last branch, will connect the cities of Chorrera and Arraiján (Western Branch) to Panama City. These three projects will take about fifteen years to be completed. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.
Snapshot of the construction of the Northern Branch of the Panama Subway to be completed by the end of 2014. The public construction project is in full swing even as we speak. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.
Last time I was there (2007), after many years away; I was indeed a tourist in my own country. I can imagine that today it will be even worse; the city has indeed grown beyond recognition, I am still having trouble wrapping my head around a subway system in Panama, when all we had back in the day were chivas and diablo rojos, beside school buses to get around in for public transportation. Wow!
Hi Marcia:
A lot of water has flowed under the bridge. You are right, five years from now I will need a map or a GPS to get around in Panama City. A brand new city is growing under our noses. It’s absolutely amazing. Tomorrow is here!
Thanks a bunch for leaving a comment. I appreciate it.
Regards,
Omar.-
Hi Omar,
I feel like our town and yours are sister cities. We have a multi-lane parkway being built right through the southern half of the city to help with the north/south gridlock on the existing roads here. The southern border of the city is blooming with new neighborhoods and businesses and we need the parkway but, it cuts across several east/west traffic arteries so the roadway is being built in several places at once. Later, the bypasses over/under the existing roads will connect the pieces with a “minimum” of disruption. Minimum is a relative term.
I’m all for progress but it interferes with my shopping trips to my favorite hardware store! haha
jim and nena
fort worth, tx
Hi Jim and Nena:
I hear you. Driving around Panama City is a nightmare. It takes an eternity to travel from point A to Point B. But that’s the cost of progress. Minimum disruption is a joke, right? (Smile)
Can’t wait to see the subway in full operation.
Regards,
Omar.-
I just returned from Panama last week and was also amazed with the pace of construction. It was only two years since my last visit and I couldn’t believe that the pace of construction of high rises in the capital not only kept going, but actually increased. I too cannot wait until the subway is completed. The idea of traveling from Via Espana to Albrook in just a few minutes is tantalizing.
I think, I will be the only person to oppose a subway system in Panama, right now. The construction and maintenance is very costly. Panama should be thinking of a railroad from PANAMA CITY to DAVID, provincia de CHIRIQUI,so we will be able to relocate people to the INTERIOR.The traffic congestion in Panama City is terrible, as we all know,something has to be done, it is an urgent matter.As an ex-employee of WMATA ( WASHINGTON, D.C.system and PUERTO RICO, RIO PIEDRA) subway stations and tunnels (5). I know it will be very,very costly. Esto es mi humilde pensamionto.Muchas gracias. Maryland, JAIME GRIFFITHS