Bahia de Caraquez Access Road Enters Final 30 Days of Rehabilitation After Two Years of Disruption

The Ministry of Transport and Public Works (MTOP) confirmed on February 5 that rehabilitation of the 18 km Chone-Bahia de Caraquez access road in Manabi province has reached 92% completion, with full reopening expected within 30 days.

The project, which began in February 2024, has been the primary land route improvement for Bahia de Caraquez -- a coastal town that has positioned itself as an "eco-city" and attracted a small but growing expat community.

What's Being Done

The rehabilitation includes:

• Complete repaving of the 18 km two-lane highway
• 12 new drainage culverts to prevent the road flooding that previously closed the route for days during rainy season
• Slope stabilisation on 6 critical hillside sections
• Two new bridge decks replacing structures damaged in 2023 heavy rains
• Road widening at 4 passing zones

Total project cost: $14.2 million, funded through national highway budget and a CAF loan.

The Pain of Construction

During the rehabilitation, traffic has been managed through single-lane alternating flow during construction hours (7am-5pm), adding approximately 45 minutes to the typical 25-minute drive. Weekend traffic has regularly backed up for 1-2 hours.

"The road situation has been our biggest challenge," said Patricia Zambrano, president of the Bahia de Caraquez hotel association. "Tourism visits dropped 30-35% over the two-year construction period."

At least three planned residential projects in the Bahia-San Vicente corridor were delayed, representing an estimated $12 million in deferred investment.

What This Means for Expats

If you've been avoiding the Bahia de Caraquez coast because of the road situation, the end is in sight:

• Expected completion: First week of March 2026
• New drive time: Approximately 18 minutes from Chone (down from 25 pre-construction, and far better than the 70+ minutes during construction)
• Year-round access: The new drainage and slope work should provide reliable access for the first time since the 2016 earthquake

Bahia de Caraquez and the adjacent San Vicente coast have some of the most affordable beachfront property in Ecuador. With road access about to improve dramatically, it's worth watching this market.

Source: El Diario