PANAMA CITY, Panama – The Panama Metro authority has announced a partial, month-long closure of the Pan-American Highway in the Arraiján area to facilitate ongoing construction for the Metro Line 3 project. The closures will affect both lanes of the highway from the access ramp to Roberto F. Chiari Road to Calle 2000, beginning Thursday, October 30, and lasting for four weeks.
The scheduled closures will be in effect nightly from 9:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. The work is concentrated in the area of the future Arraiján Station, a key component of the expanding metro system. This traffic disruption is a direct result of the significant construction progress, with tunnel work for the new line recently reported as 53% complete.
Established Alternate Routes for Drivers
To minimize the impact on the thousands of commuters who use this vital artery, the Panama Metro has established detailed alternate routes. Drivers traveling towards La Chorrera are advised to use the Centenario Highway and continue on the Arraiján-La Chorrera expressway as their primary detour.
Additional access has been provided from the Roberto F. Chiari Road, where newly enabled lanes will be available for traffic heading to La Chorrera. Residents from communities along 7 de Septiembre Street will also be able to access these new lanes via the Roberto F. Chiari interchange.
Authorities are urging drivers to respect all traffic signs and follow the directions of personnel on site to guarantee safety and vehicular fluidity during the development of the work. [Translated from Spanish]
Traffic flowing towards Panama City center will not be subject to any detours and is expected to proceed normally. For those needing access to Calle 2000, routes will remain available from the Centenario Highway and the new lanes on Roberto F. Chiari Road.
The Panama Metro continues to advise the public to plan for additional travel time and to stay updated through official channels. This temporary closure underscores the active advancement of the Metro Line 3 project, which aims to significantly improve public transportation infrastructure in the western region of the country.