Costa Rican road authorities yesterday morning opened a single lane over the bridge that crosses the Guacimal river, allowing drivers to make a slowed journey up the Inter-American Highway to the northwest Guanacaste province, according to the Public Works and Transport Ministry (MOPT).

The surface of the 69-meter-long bridge cracked Saturday when one of its supports gave way, the ministry said in a press release.

Alejandro Molina, executive director of the National Roadway Council, said workers have evened out the surface again, but “passage over the bridge will remain regulated for at least two more weeks,” according to the release.

Public Works and Transport Minister Karla González told reporters Monday the government estimates, for the third quarter of 2008, an expenditure of $65 million on fixing up Costa Rica's bridges.