The Pan-American Highway in Costa Rica: A Historical Journey
National Primary Route 1, also known as Carretera Interamericana Norte (North Interamerican Road), represents the northern portion of the Pan-American Highway as it runs through Costa Rica. In Central America, this stretch of road is commonly referred to as the Inter-American Highway.
Author: Max Schwartz
Also known as the Inter-American Highway
Discovering the Inter-American Highway
The Pan-American Highway, also known as the Inter-American Highway, holds a significant place in the history of Costa Rica and global transportation. Its inception dates back to the aftermath of the bombing of the U.S. naval base in Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. With the United States entering World War II, there was an urgent need for an overland route to the Panama Canal, a critical strategic asset vulnerable to enemy submarines.
A Young Draftsman’s Adventure
At just 19 years old, Max Schwartz, then working as a draftsman in the Los Angeles office of the U.S. Corps of Engineers, signed up as a surveyor-aide for this monumental project. Sent to the base office in San José, Costa Rica, Max faced numerous challenges, including malaria, amoebic dysentery, and skin infections, common among surveyors of that era.
The Journey to Liberia
Shortly after arriving in Costa Rica, Max was reassigned to a field survey party near Liberia, the capital of the northwestern province of Guanacaste, to replace a surveyor affected by malaria. His initial attempt to reach Liberia by army jeep failed due to the deep-rutted dirt roads, forcing him to fly on an ancient TACA airplane. The flight, characterized by dead reckoning navigation and a bumpy journey, ended with a landing on a grass-covered field outside Liberia.
Surveying the Terrain
Max’s task involved blazing a trail and marking a preliminary route for the highway, followed by a topographic survey of a 100-foot-wide strip leading to Cañas, southeast of Liberia. Surveying over mountains, through valleys, and across rivers without maps or radios, the team relied solely on compasses. Their daily routine included riding horses from the campsite to the survey line, with personal belongings in saddlebags and surveying instruments carried by packhorses.
Challenges in the Jungle
The jungle’s harsh conditions posed significant challenges. Rubber raincoats offered little relief from the incessant rain and intense humidity, which caused equipment and clothing to rot. The damp air fouled the crosshairs in the survey instruments, and wooden survey stakes even sprouted branches after being set in the ground. Despite these hardships, the Costa Rican workers diligently cleared a path ahead with sharp machetes, while Max recorded angular changes and elevation measurements in his field book.
Life in the Field
Living in the jungle meant setting up army-style tents and sleeping on canvas cots amidst scorpions and snakes. Malaria-carrying mosquitoes were a constant threat, necessitating the use of protective nets each night. After five arduous months, the fieldwork for the highway section was completed, and Max returned to San José to assist the highway engineers in preparing the final design and topographic maps.
Completion and Legacy
Although construction began, the threat to the Panama Canal had subsided by mid-1943, leading to the U.S. Corps of Engineers phasing out the military road effort. The project was handed over to the U.S. Public Roads Administration and the Costa Rican Ministry of Public Works and Transport, which continued the design and construction for civilian traffic. The Inter-American Highway was completed around 1960, stretching from the Nicaraguan border in the north to Panama in the south.
Max Schwartz’s Legacy
Max Schwartz returned to the United States in 1943, enlisted in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and served in Europe from 1943-45. After the war, he continued his career as a civil engineer for 40 years, leaving behind a legacy of dedication and resilience. In 2005, Max shared his vivid memories of working on the Inter-American Highway, a testament to his contribution to this historic project.
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