Infrastructure for Now and the Future

Because of its history as an U.S. Air Force Base, electrical, water, telecommunication and road infrastructure already exists at Panama Pacifico. With existing infrastructure already in place, development can move forward without first having to create an infrastructure system.

In the future, existing infrastructure will be upgraded, as well as new infrastructure added, in order to accommodate the continued growth and development of the site.

In 2009, more than $26 million in new infrastructure was built, including three new major roadways. The roadways provide access to the new PanAmerica Corporate Center for logistics and separate heavy truck traffic from the rest of the community. Photos of these new roadways are visible above and to the right. An additional $23 million is being built now through June 2011.

Existing infrastructure and future plans include:

Road Infrastructure

  • Boulevard de las Americas, Via Continental and Avenida International are the three new roads completed in 2009.
  • Central access to the site is provided by Bruja Boulevard (soon to be re-christened Boulevard Panama Pacifico), which will be upgraded as part of the new backbone infrastructure for the community, becoming a two-lane, dual carriageway linking the Pan-American Highway from north to south.
  • Bruja Boulevard provides a connection to the Veracruz Highway on the southeast boundary of the community. A new road between Panama Pacifico’s north boundary and the Centenario Bridge will be built between 2011 and 2014. This will provide expanded access and ease of movement between Panama Pacifico and the Colon Free Trade Zone on the Atlantic side.

Electrical System

  • The main supplier of electricity for Panama Pacifico is the Panama Canal Authority (ACP)
  • Existing peak demand at the site is 3.5 MVA, with a capacity of 29.0 MVA, which is estimated to meet electrical needs until 2014
  • By 2015, there will be new transmission lines and two additional substations on the site
  • All International Business Park offices will have eight hours of electricity back-up

Potable Water

  • Potable water for Panama Pacifico currently comes from the Miraflores Locks at the Panama Canal, also serving Veracruz and Playa Bonita
  • Existing combined demand is 2.5 MGD, with a capacity of 3.5 MGD, which is estimated to meet potable water needs until 2012
  • A new water plant at Chorrera will begin operating in 2009 which will act as a back-up for the project´s water needs if the Miraflores Locks system should experience any issues
  • ACP/IDAAN (the Panama Water Authority) can supply the future demand of the development, estimated at 20 MGD for 2046
  • Existing pressure of the system serving Panama Pacifico at the Pan American Highway (the project’s north border) is 65 psi; minimum required by the Panama Water Authority (IDAAN) is 20 psi
  • All International Business Park offices will have eight hours of water storage backup

Storm Water System

  • Panama Pacifico has five rivers traversing the development: Venado, Farfan, Velasques, Castilla and Detal (In comparison, Panama City only has four.)
  • With normal maintenance, the existing system will be improved with the construction of the roads to work throughout the life of the development
  • All new projects in the development will discharge water to nearby creeks by design

Telecommunications

  • Existing fiber cables are from UFINET, CABLE & WIRELESS and ACP
  • UFINET and CABLE & WIRELESS currently have facilities in place at Panama Pacifico, and are able to meet immediate business and residential needs

Waste Water Collection System

  • With proper maintenance, the existing system can be utilized through 2011 to serve the Town Center commercial and residential
  • A $1 million investment in upgrading existing waste water treatment system is currently underway
  • The waste water treatment plant has a capacity of 1.5 MGD, with current volume at 0.30 MGD
  • The International Business Park will have its own pumping station
  • Pan America Corporate Center will have two pumping stations
  • Kobbe Hills will have three pumping stations
  • The Town Center will use waste water collection gravity lines