Guaymate route
Well, on Sunday was invited to a birthday at the Viva Wyndham Dominicus so made it over there for the day. Took the advice on this thread and went the Guaymate route. It is very doable and has been prepared. Would confirm this is the best way to go right now, as it is the shortest.
Exactly as said you take the route to La Romana. From La Romana you continue on the main highway, not turning south into La Romana, but continuing on to Higueral. You know you are in Higueral when you pass the Agrocarne manufacturing plant. Next, say about 15 more minutes, is Guaymate, a small town. There you will need to turn slightly to the right onto a dirt road. It has a small stack with a paper sign reading Higuey. Just go slowly after Guaymate, it is about two minutes after the town and you will see the dirt road.
You take that road for about 20-30 minutes or so through lovely cane fields. Here it can be tricky, but you get the feel. It can be tricky because there are places where there are two roads. There are small signs with a pink cloth around them, where you see them, that is the road to take.
This will take you to the bridge built over Chavon River, what they call a "bad?n". Take that bridge across. Next you will have to do another crossing through a very shallow river. This will bring you out at the point where you are 12 kms. from Higuey on a asphalt paved road. At that point, you are on the right track. Then it is another half an hour to get to Bayahibe (head west), or to Bavaro (head east), depending on where you are going.
I do not recommend taking this road at night because it would be difficult to see the small stack indicators on the road. While it is a dirt road, it has been conditioned and is fit for all kinds of vehicles.