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This study assesses local residents' perceptions of environmental impacts associated with a road infrastructure project in Los Santos district, Los Santos, Panama. Through surveys conducted in six subprojects, perceptions of current and anticipated impacts were identified, as well as significant variations between the areas studied. The results revealed a mostly positive assessment of the project. However, most of the anticipated environmental impact perceptions were neutral, attributable to ignorance or the balance between possible negative impacts and economic benefits. Current impacts were reported prior to the start of the project, such as dust and odors, only some of which will be positively mitigated by the project. This analysis underscores the importance of integrating community opinions into planning to design strategies that balance environmental concerns and market needs.
