Costa Rica begins work on the Tempisque River bridge at Guardia de Liberia on Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. The job runs as a 567 day program costing ₡2.531 billion (C$7.1 million), with reopening targeted in 2027, according to project details shared this week. The crossing sits on National Route 21 near the turnoffs to Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport and nearby beaches.
It is not the La Amistad bridge on Route 18, which completed its own repairs earlier. The structure carries steady daily traffic that links farms, towns, and tourism services on the Nicoya Peninsula. Work aims to keep that flow moving with staged construction, not a full closure, as crews move in to fix long standing wear and tear on key elements of the span.
Under the plan, teams will first install a two lane modular bridge beside the current structure. This temporary span will carry traffic while the main bridge is strengthened. Phasing limits disruption on the corridor that connects Liberia with coastal districts and resorts. Past restrictions here show why that step matters. In May, officials briefly limited heavy vehicles after localized damage appeared on the deck and supports.
“The measure is due to damage detected in elements of the bridge,” said MOPT. That episode pushed planners to lock in a path that maintains access during the longer rebuild.
Adjudication anchors cost and scope
Procurement moved earlier this year under the road agency CONAVI. The Public Works Ministry confirmed the adjudication for the Guardia Tempisque bridge on Aug. 8, 2025, alongside other Guanacaste transport works. That notice framed a near term schedule for mobilization, temporary works, and then the main structural intervention.
The work package centres on the superstructure and substructure to improve load capacity and seismic performance. The ministry cast the effort as part of a broader push to support a growing visitor economy in the province. “Estas obras forman parte del compromiso que tenemos con el turismo del país y la provincia de Guanacaste,” said Efraím Zeledón. The same notice referenced planned upgrades on Route 21 between Liberia and Comunidad, which would raise corridor capacity once bridge works finish.
Local impact and delivery outlook
The bridge is a workhorse for the airport, nearby communities, and the food supply chain. By keeping at least one structure open to traffic throughout, the plan avoids long detours through inland routes. That helps freight carriers and service vans that shuttle between farms, hotels, and Liberia’s logistics hubs. It also offers some certainty to local bus operators during the peak dry season.
Funding for the Guardia bridge rebuild is part of routine capital spending handled by CONAVI, using a conventional tender and award. With a clear start date, defined phasing, and an interim crossing, the delivery risk leans to weather and short supply delays. Officials say updates will continue as crews rotate from temporary works to the main structural lift, then approach paving and final markings over the 2026 construction window.