Snapshot of the construction of a subway in Panama City on Sunday, May 30, 2012. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.
The construction of a subway in Panama began on Monday, February 14, 2011 which by the way, is Valentine’s Day in Panama. It has an allotted budget of $1.6 billion and should be finished sometime in 2014. Year 2014 marks the end of the administration of President Ricardo Martinelli, who made the subway, one of his main campaign promises.
The system will open with an initial capacity of 15,000 passengers an hour in each direction, with more being added over a period of several years to peak at 40,000 passengers. When it is accomplished, trains will travel a 8.7-mile line in 23 minutes with stops at 13 stations, some above ground and others below. It will run between the Special District of San Miguelito and Albrook’s bus terminal.
The picture above displayed the support beams being built on May 30, 2012, about four months ago. Last Sunday, September 8, 2012, I drove over to the Transisthmian Highway to take pictures of the level of progress made on this iconic mega-project.
Below you will find several pictures which depict the most recent work in progress. As you can see, the structure above ground is now finished and the rails will soon be laid out. Here we go.
Snapshot of the construction of a subway in Panama City, Panama as of September 8, 2012. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.
Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.
Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.
Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.
Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.
Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.
Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.
I will be monitoring the progress of this public construction project and will share with you the improvements made until it is inaugurated sometime in 2014. I’m proud that Panama is moving forward becoming the most modern city in Central America. Good Day.
If I just glanced at these photos, I could be persuaded they were taken at the site of a big road project about two miles north of me. “Progress” looks pretty much the same everywhere.
I do wonder how the little shops on the access roads are faring there. Many of the projects around here hurt businesses because it’s so difficult to get off the primary road and down to the old ‘used-to-be-primary’ road. Everything comes with a cost, of course, but the small shopkeepers sometimes seem to bear a proportionally larger share than they should.
Hi Linda:
Most of the subway systems are more or less the same everywhere, except in Moscow. Those guys really know how to build a subway with a touch of class. Please click here to find other subway systems which are absolutely impressive.
I’m sure some small business will be affected. How much, time will tell. I guess progress has a price. There’s no such thing as a free lunch.
Bye,
Omar.-