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Held at Pelican Eyes…Piedras y Olas Hotel and Resort on Wednesday 14th November, 60 major investors and developers showed up to hear a presentation of the latest news of this important route.

Mr. Mario Salinas, the top Tourism and Investment Advisor to President Daniel Ortega, was introduced by Sergio Corrales Montenegro (ANID). Mr. Salinas gave a full and frank update of the latest news on this project. In brief, the original plan which considered a totally new road is under revue as the costs were prohibitive.

The new plan will look at using the path of the existing “dirt road”, banning heavier vehicles and lowering the maximum speed, thereby reducing the overall cost of the project.

Mr. Salinas told the audience that investment groups from Italy, Columbia and a combined U.S.A./ Canadian organization have expressed an interest in backing the project. Consideration is being given to offering a concession or contract to a private company to manage the highway as a toll road.

The theory being that over a 20 year period, the investors have made their return on their investment and the road can be handed over to the Government.

Mayor Eduardo Holmann, a big supporter of this project, also addressed the audience and talked about the work he has done to encourage interest on the other side of the border with his counterpart in La Cruz Costa Rica. The proposed crossing point into Costa Rica is only 5 kilometers from the town of La Cruz.

Work crews from that Municipality have already began upgrading their stretch of road so that in the new year, in theory and if the crossing were manned, it will be possible to drive a 4 x 4 from Costa Rica into Nicaragua and up the coast.

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