Panama is advancing two of its most critical infrastructure projects, the Fourth Bridge over the Panama Canal and Metro Line 3, with both aiming for completion in 2028. These multi-billion dollar efforts are designed to alleviate severe traffic congestion for over 650,000 residents in Panama Oeste and represent a significant technical and logistical challenge for the nation.
Combined, the projects represent a public investment exceeding $6.6 billion. Officials from Metro de Panamá and the Ministry of Public Works (MOP) provided exclusive updates on the current construction status and the major milestones planned for 2026.
“Panama maintains as a challenge in 2026 the continuity of two of the most ambitious and strategic road infrastructure projects in the country, aimed at solving the mobility of more than 650,000 Panamanians residing in Panama Oeste,” a government infrastructure report stated. [Translated from Spanish]
The coming year will see both projects enter decisive phases, with Metro Line 3 beginning dynamic testing on its elevated guideway and the Fourth Bridge continuing the complex assembly of its cable-stayed main span.
Metro Line 3 Nears 70 Percent Completion With Tunnel Breakthrough
Metro Line 3, executed by Metro de Panamá, S.A., now reports an overall progress rate of 69 percent. The project integrates elevated viaducts, underground tunnels, and a state-of-the-art Monorail system, making it one of the country’s most complex mass transit endeavors. The Korean consortium HPH Joint Venture, comprising Hyundai Engineering & Construction and Posco E&C, is developing the line for a planned inauguration in the second half of 2028.
Construction is split between elevated and underground sections. The elevated phase, known as Contract Phase 1, has reached 82 percent completion. The underground phase, or Contract Phase 2, which includes the challenging tunnel beneath the canal, is 47 percent complete. Of the line’s 11 stations, several are in advanced stages with progress ranging from 53 to 97 percent.
“The projection for 2026 is that the majority of these stations will have their civil works completed, leaving execution work on finishes, electromechanical systems, and equipment,” project managers confirmed. [Translated from Spanish]
The stations, listed by their current progress level, are Ciudad del Futuro, San Bernardino, Nuevo Arraiján, Vista Alegre, Loma Cová, Burunga, Arraiján, Albrook, Cerro Silvestre, Nuevo Chorrillo, and Panamá Pacífico. Civil works at most are expected to finish this year.
Monorail Testing and Tunnel Boring Machine Advance
The project’s 26 monorail trains have already been reassembled and are undergoing dynamic testing within the Patio y Talleres area. These tests include rescue procedures for disabled trains and validation of the autonomous operation system. A critical milestone is scheduled for the first half of 2026, the start of dynamic testing on the actual viaduct between the Patio y Talleres and the Vista Alegre station.
Underground, the project faces its most formidable task. Excavation of the main tunnel has reached 60 percent, with 3 kilometers bored and over 1,400 concrete rings installed. The tunnel boring machine, named “Panamá,” is currently approaching Building 9 of the Panama Canal Authority in Balboa.
It is expected to reach the Balboa Shaft in early 2026 for major maintenance before completing its final drive to the Albrook station. This tramo soterrado, or buried section, will stretch 4.5 kilometers from Farfán to Albrook beneath the canal.
Parallel tunneling work using the Cut and Cover method has finished excavation and covering phases. Crews are now waterproofing and building support structures. Another section using the New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM) has 120 meters of final lining complete, with finishing work expected by February 2026.
Fourth Bridge Construction Reaches 30 Percent Milestone
Across the isthmus, the Fourth Bridge over the Panama Canal is showing tangible progress. Executed by the Ministry of Public Works (MOP), the project has reached 30 percent overall completion. The Consorcio Panamá Cuarto Puente (CPCP) is managing the build, which involves 25 active work fronts and has generated up to 3,700 direct jobs.
The bridge’s design includes a cable-stayed main span that will allow for unrestricted navigation in the canal. Work is progressing simultaneously from both the Panama City and Panama Oeste sides. Construction of the massive foundations and piers that will support the bridge’s towers and deck is now fully underway.
“The Fourth Bridge over the Panama Canal project reaches a 30% overall progress, with 25 active work fronts and the generation of up to 3,700 direct jobs,” the MOP reported this week. [Translated from Spanish]
This progress figure represents a significant acceleration since major foundation work began. The project carries a total cost of $2.137 billion, which includes design, construction, and an estimated $640 million in financing. Like Metro Line 3, its official completion date is set for August 2028.
Engineers and project managers emphasize that 2026 will be a pivotal year for the bridge. The focus will shift increasingly from substructure to superstructure, with the gradual assembly of the bridge deck and the erection of the iconic towers that will define the Panama City skyline. The successful coordination of these activities across the active waterway remains the project’s central logistical challenge.
Together, these two projects aim to transform mobility in the Panama Metropolitan Area. They address a chronic imbalance where population growth in Panama Oeste has far outpaced transportation infrastructure, leading to daily traffic gridlock on the existing bridge crossings. Their completion in 2028 promises to redefine connectivity, reduce commute times by hours for many, and support continued economic development across the region.