Residents and preservationists are raising alarms over plans to demolish a historic Balboa train station. The structure, part of the Panama Canal Railway, sits within the Returned Areas of the Panama Canal. Officials say the building must be removed to make way for the Fourth Bridge over the Panama Canal.
The station, built around 1915, is a relic of a bygone era. It once served passengers and cargo moving through the canal zone. Now, it stands in the path of a massive infrastructure project that promises to reshape transportation in Panama City.
Community Fights to Save 1915 Railway Station
Citizens and urban planners argue the station is irreplaceable. They say its demolition would erase a key piece of the nation’s identity. The building was originally slated to become a railway museum, according to original blueprints reviewed by residents.
Urban planner Álvaro Uribe spoke passionately about the station’s value. He said the structure is more than old bricks and mortar.
“These are the trucks heading to the port with no road to use, forcing them to go anywhere. The station must be declared historical heritage precisely because it is part of our history, of what happened here, of the recovery of the returned area, of the system’s operation, and of the landscape that is so important within these areas. Now they want to demolish it, when the original plans defined it at least as a railway museum.” [Translated from Spanish]
Residents see the station as part of a larger architectural ensemble. The area was designed as a unified civic and administrative center. Removing the station would break that visual and historical puzzle.
“When this was designed, it was designed with the concept of a landscape unity complex,” one resident explained. “Remove this, and it’s like removing a piece from a puzzle. This entire system here was designed with the concept of a civic administrative center. It is part of a set, part of an element of a system that was built here.” [Translated from Spanish]
Identity and Belonging at Stake
For many who live in the area, the fight is personal. Even those who were not born there have developed a deep connection to the place.
“Removing that is also erasing, as the architect said, part of our history and our identity,” the resident added. “It is true that those of us here were not born here, but we have generated a sense of belonging and territorial identity.” [Translated from Spanish]
A walk through the site reveals original materials still intact. These elements have withstood decades of tropical weather. They serve as a tangible link to a time when the railway was the lifeblood of the isthmus.
Minister Confirms Demolition Plans
Public Works Minister José Luis Andrade addressed the situation yesterday. He confirmed the station will be demolished. The building sits directly in the path of the viaduct for the Fourth Bridge project.
Andrade stated that the necessary permits have been requested. A crane currently on site will be relocated. The rest of the station will be torn down as part of the road development plan.
What Happens Next
Residents are calling for meetings with the Ministry of Public Works and the Ministry of Culture. They want to present their case for preservation. The Panama Canal Authority has not issued a statement on the matter.
The community hopes authorities will explore alternatives. They want to see if the bridge project can coexist with the historic structure. For now, the station stands silent, waiting for a decision that could change the skyline of Balboa forever.
“Hemos tratado a través de ACAC de la Asociación de Comunidades del Área del Canal de alzar la voz de toda la destrucción que está ocurriendo en la zona y ahora con esto en específico, la verdad es que no tenemos una respuesta. Hay un vacío de información y ese es parte del… pic.twitter.com/9tD4RyrTnw
— Telemetro Reporta (@TReporta) June 5, 2026