What Happened
The Autoridad del Tránsito y Transporte Terrestre (ATTT) will change the hours when heavy equipment can travel on Centenario Road starting Monday, April 20. The new schedule is meant to ease congestion and improve road safety during the busiest traffic periods.
The restriction will apply in two daily windows: from 5:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. and from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Those are the peak hours when traffic volume is typically highest on one of the country’s most important corridors.
Where Trucks Will Be Held
Under the new arrangement, mandatory holding points will remain in place. Cargo transport heading toward Panama City will be stopped at La Pesa de La Chorrera. Vehicles traveling toward the interior of the country will have to stop in the Centennial area, in front of Altaplaza, during the restricted hours.
The measure is designed to keep large vehicles out of the roadway when commuter traffic is heaviest, helping reduce bottlenecks and lowering the risk of accidents. Centenario Road is a key route for daily movement between the western area and the capital, making traffic management there especially important.
Why the Change Matters
The adjustment comes as authorities continue to regulate the movement of heavy vehicles on strategic roads in Panama. It also follows other limits affecting large trucks on major crossings, including the Bridge of the Americas, where vehicles weighing more than 10 tons are prohibited from passing.
For logistics operators and freight drivers, the schedule means planning trips more carefully around morning and afternoon rush periods. For regular motorists, the change is intended to improve traffic flow and reduce delays on a route that carries a high number of vehicles every day.
The ATTT said the priority is to maintain efficient traffic management and protect all road users. The new restriction reflects a broader effort to balance freight movement with the needs of commuter traffic in and around the capital.