The Ministry of Public Works, Jimmy Duran has announced that it will be alloting 33% of its public works budget to the completion of the widening to the Autopista Duarte, the country’s principal arterial road, the cost of which has risen by 400%, from RD$1,000 million to over RD$5,000 million in the four years of construction work.
The Fernandez administration is slowing the pace of the public works in order to siphon off funds to the more than 1,000 other projects that have been started around the country. This follows the previous Balaguer’s administration’s decision to accelerate construction with the intent of finishing the highway during its term in office, but this proved impossible. Some 14 contractors are working on the job.