While not a new idea, it is really a great one, linking Mexico and Central America with a new highway.  Presently it takes 8 to 9 days to drive to Panama.  This would reduce the trip time to 3 days.  Building a modern highway from Panama to Mexico would also provide a big boost to the economic integration of the isthmus.  I am not sure that I want to see the road cross the Darien to Colombia though.

Unlike the hitherto unproven economic viability of various other inter-oceanic canal projects (wet and dry) announced in virtually every country of the region, a “dry canal” which would improve the current transit conditions of goods and people from Mexico to Colombia, does appear to be the best investment in infrastructure for the isthmus.

An article in Capital.com.pa reports that “The Mesoamerican countries, ranging from Mexico to Colombia, have proposed speeding up the Pacific Corridor project which would link the entire region by road, an initiative promoted by the current Mexican government chaired by Enrique Peña Nieto and which according to estimates by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) would represent an investment of $3.5 billion. ”

“… During a recent meeting of deputy ministers of infrastructure, transport and public works of the member countries, held in Panama, it was agreed that the project should achieve a major breakthrough by 2020 and by 2030 enlargements would be made to the roads built and completion of any pending sections done at that time. ”

Source: Capital.com.pa