A recent ranking of road infrastructure in Latin America lists Costa Rica as second to last, followed by Paraguay and Haiti who are tied for last place with similarly dismal rankings.

 

The information came to light in the most recent 2017-2018 competitiveness report issued by the World Economic Forum and focused on the quality of roads.

The ranking is based partially on the perception of businesses regarding the road network in their country, and measures how well roads allow businesses to carry out their economic activities.

Globally Costa Rica occupies 123th position on road infrastructure with a score of 2.6.

“There are countries in the region with lower investments in their road systems but that better meet the mobility needs of merchants, and by extension, people, to carry out their economic activities,” said Luis Guillermo Loría, general coordinator of Costa Rica’s road infrastructure program, in an interview with Costa Rica’s Monumental Radio.

Loría stressed the need to move from minor repair work in Costa Rica to large projects that mitigate bottlenecks at crucial points on the country’s main roads.

Panama was ranked top in the region for its road infrastructure and worldwide is ranked 49th.

The World Economic Forum uses specific parameters for defining the quality of road infrastructure, and also looks at the existence and adequate maintenance of road and rail networks, and the availability of air and sea connections, infrastructure that is critical for economic activities and maintaining competitivity.