Research from the University of Costa Rica’s National Laboratory for Materials and Structural Models suggests that keeping road networks in tip-top condition not only saves money in the long run but also keeps carbon emissions down.

Whether they allow goods and services to be transported from one place to the next, facilitate tourism, or allow people to connect, good road networks are an essential component of any country’s social-economic development. Costa Rica is no different. Spanning some 51,000 km², Costa Rica is home to approximately 5 million people, connected by some 48,000 kilometres of road. Unfortunately, Costa Rica’s road network has suffered from a lack of investment over the years and has degraded. More recently, improving the road network has become a hot topic for the Costa Rican government.

“We need to plan how we invest our resources into the roads,” José David Rodríguez-Morera, Road Auditor at the Transportation Infrastructure Program (PITRA) based at the University of Costa Rica’s National Laboratory for Materials and Structural Models (LANAMME-UCR) explained. “We also want that investment in the roads to produce other benefits,” he added.

In 2019, Costa Rica unveiled its pathway toward net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. If Costa Rica is to be successful, its strategy must be comprehensive, looking at emissions from multiple different sectors – like the road network. The challenge is to develop a strategic investment plan for developing and maintaining the road network that not only keeps it in good condition but also helps support social-economic development, all while keeping carbon emissions to a minimum.

This story was written for - and can be read in full at - Remsoft.

Header Image: Jaco Beach, Costa Rica by Samuel Charron (Unsplash Licence)