The expansion of the San Gerardo–Limonal section of National Route 1 (Inter-American Highway North), awarded to Constructora Meco, represents a strategic milestone in the development of Costa Rica’s road infrastructure. This segment covers approximately 23 kilometers within the broader Barranca–Limonal corridor project, which aims to expand the highway from two to four lanes to enhance road safety, improve mobility, and strengthen logistical connectivity between the Central Pacific region and the province of Guanacaste. 

The project forms part of the 49-kilometer Barranca–Limonal corridor. Once completed, travel times along this key route are expected to decrease by 40 to 45 minutes, delivering significant benefits for freight transportation, tourism, and local communities. 

This section of the project involves not only the widening of the roadway but also the comprehensive rehabilitation of the corridor, including the construction of four vehicular bridges, five pedestrian bridges, three grade-separated interchanges, four U-turn facilities, and 21 wildlife crossings, ensuring an infrastructure design that integrates both safety standards and environmental sustainability considerations. 

The contract awarded to Meco exceeds US$141 million, with an execution period of up to 24 months from the notice to proceed issued in January, reflecting both the scale and the technical complexity of the works. 

Constructora Meco was founded in 1977 by Ángel Américo Cerdas and his son Carlos Cerdas Araya, and has since grown into the most prominent Costa Rican construction company operating in Latin America. Today, the company carries out projects in Costa Rica, Panama, Nicaragua, El Salvador, and Colombia, and employs more than 6,500 people across the region.