Huge new toll plaza on Duarte Highway ready to open

[Dolores]

Minister of Public Works Deligne Ascencion announced the opening on Monday, 16 September 2024 of a new 14 lane, toll plaza at Km 27 of the Duarte Highway. This is the largest in the country. The Duarte Highway connects the south with the north and is regarded as the country’s most important road.

Apparently, at first, only eight of the lanes will be open as work continues on the remaining lanes and the tollbooths.

Many people question why this new and very expensive plaza was necessary, and the answer can be traced to the Dominican way of skirting difficulties. Apparently, studies showed that the current toll plaza to the east of the town of Pedro Brand was receiving less and less money because drivers had discovered that by detouring through the streets and byways of Pedro Brand, they could circumvent paying tolls. As a result the government has spent...

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[JD Jones]

Slapped a big Flex Seal on that leak! LOL

 

[cavok]

Hard to believe enough people would be taking a detour through Pedro Brand to avoid a 50 peso toll to justify the expense on a larger toll booth(?).

 

[NanSanPedro]

Hard to believe enough people would be taking a detour through Pedro Brand to avoid a 50 peso toll to justify the expense on a larger toll booth(?).

I would guess it's not the 60 peso toll, but the long wait.

 

[cavok]

I would guess it's not the 60 peso toll, but the long wait.

I thought with that "paso rapido" things were much better(?)

 

[NanSanPedro]

I thought with that "paso rapido" things were much better(?)

oh yea, but so many don't have it. They've reduced the cash lanes by about 40% for paso rapido. I think that creates a worse bottleneck for cash customers. Plus, there are issues with paso rapido.

 

[cavok]

oh yea, but so many don't have it. They've reduced the cash lanes by about 40% for paso rapido. I think that creates a worse bottleneck for cash customers. Plus, there are issues with paso rapido.

If you're making that trip every day, you have to be crazy not to have the paso rapido.

 

[JD Jones]

They

oh yea, but so many don't have it. They've reduced the cash lanes by about 40% for paso rapido. I think that creates a worse bottleneck for cash customers. Plus, there are issues with paso rapido.

They have been pushing folks to get Paso Rapido since last year. IIRC, didn't they try to tie it to renewing the Marbete?

 

[NanSanPedro]

They


They have been pushing folks to get Paso Rapido since last year. IIRC, didn't they try to tie it to renewing the Marbete?

If they did, I didn't notice it when we renewed ours.

 

[irishpaddy]

You have to wonder why so many people try to go through the Paso Rapido ...even though they dont have it ...add in the times it doesnt work for those that have it

 

[MariaRubia]

By my calculations, to recouperate the $1.2 bn that they spent on this, they will need 20 million extra journeys (ie people who were going through the Pedro Brand route) at 60 pesos a pop. Seems like nobody did that math, 20 million extra journeys is a hell of a lot.

 

[PCMike]

I have yet to have an issue with Paso Rapido.

 

[NALs]

oh yea, but so many don't have it. They've reduced the cash lanes by about 40% for paso rapido. I think that creates a worse bottleneck for cash customers. Plus, there are issues with paso rapido.

The point of that is to encourage more people to get Paso Rápido.

 

[JD Jones]

The point of that is to encourage more people to get Paso Rápido.

If everyone had Paso Rapido, there wouldn't be a traffic jam at the toll stations.

The only problem I've had at toll stations is idiot/ignorant drivers.

Maybe if they had automatic ticketing for offenders?

 

[NanSanPedro]

If everyone had Paso Rapido, there wouldn't be a traffic jam at the toll stations.

The only problem I've had at toll stations is idiot/ignorant drivers.

Maybe if they had automatic ticketing for offenders?

The only peaje I use is the airport one on Las Americas. Generally 25 -50% of the paso rapido lanes don't work or have the red X on them advising us that they're closed.

Additionally, they decided my puddle jumper is now a guagua and are charging me 120 pesos/trip. I have written to them and given them evidence of the obvious. They haven't refunded my pesos yet. I believe they hire the same people as does EDEestupido.

 

[NanSanPedro]

Up on PasoNoF'ingRapido: Took 7 minutes to get thru at about 2 pm today. They were doing some maintenance and the readers were down. The lane I went thru they had a guy scanning your sticker and a woman entering it in a laptop to get the arm to raise. Another total abortion.

 

[bennymack]

So... Should I get Paso Rapido? Does it save any money or just time (sometimes)? Living in Jarabacoa. Every time I make the trip to Punta Cana, I wonder. I do this 3-4 times a year.

 

[JD Jones]

So... Should I get Paso Rapido? Does it save any money or just time (sometimes)? Living in Jarabacoa. Every time I make the trip to Punta Cana, I wonder. I do this 3-4 times a year.

Only you can answer that.
I have it and use it maybe once or twice a year now. Peace of mind for me, and the balance stays there until you need it.

 

[irishpaddy]

When it works it does save time and is convenient ....you get a laugh out of the people that have sped by you ....only to see them get in line to pay cash as you pass on by

 

[JD Jones]

When it works it does save time and is convenient ....you get a laugh out of the people that have sped by you ....only to see them get in line to pay cash as you pass on by

One of life's little pleasures.