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Several of Panama’s huge construction projects took large steps forward in 2017, including the new convention center on Amador Causeway and the second terminal for Tocumen International Airport.

Several of the largest government-backed projects are scheduled to complete in 2018 or early 2019, and each will have a definitive impact on Panama’s economy, as well as the lifestyle of Panama residents. In a recent article, El Capital Financiero looked at the status of five of the big projects.

Metro Line 2

The second line of Panama’s historic metro system is 63 percent complete, the paper reports. Recent work has focused on completing 16 stations, as well as electrical systems, communication lines, and fire protection. The final phase will include completion of a 23-kilometer viaduct.

Colon Urban Regeneration

The port of Colon is getting a makeover, including more than 5,000 social housing apartments, new water and sanitation infrastructure, roads and revitalized historic neighborhoods. The government is spending more than $569 million on the project, which officials say is 59 percent complete and should be finished by the end of 2018.

Amador Convention Center

After several delays, construction of the largest convention center in Panama is moving forward at a crisp pace. The center, which will help make the Amador Causeway a new tourist and business destination for the city, was 54 percent complete at the end of October, the paper reports. Officials believe it can be finished by the end of 2018.

Tocumen Expansion

Construction on the Norman Foster-designed second terminal of Tocumen International Airport is entering its final phase. The $800 million project will add 116,000 meters of space, boarding gates, and modern facilities to the airport, which is expected to handle more than 20 million passengers a year in the near future. Officials expect the terminal to be ready by mid-July.

Third Bridge Over the Canal

A third bridge over the Panama Canal, located on the Colon end of the Canal, is about 76 percent complete and should help alleviate congestion. The 4.6-kilometer, four-lane bridge is scheduled to complete by the end of 2018, at a cost of $379.6 million. Development is also progressing on a fourth bridge, which will make it easier to connect between Panama City and the western communities, including a new metro line.

Eddie Montes is the head of Property Management for Punta Pacifica Realty, a Panama real estate agency focused on Punta Pacifica, the exclusive neighborhood of 18 towers perched on the edge of the Pacific Ocean.