The daily press has reported that the Autopista 30 de Mayo, the western extension of the George Washington Avenue will become a series of parks and gardens lit at night by a special lighting system that has a RD$20 million price tag. A lane has been added to both the southern and northern sides of the avenue, bringing it to be a six lane avenue. Miguel Logroño, director of Projects and Planning of the Ministry of Public Works, said the avenue will have seven or eight recreational areas and parks when completed. The government also took advantage of the renovations to install a rain drainage system to avoid the flooding that occurred in the past. He said the government hopes to complete the highway in time for Christmas. 75% of the eight kilometer thoroughfare, from Abraham Lincoln Avenue to Km. 12, has been completed. In the mid 70s, then President Balaguer had turned the area into lovely parks overlooking the Caribbean Sea. But Hurricane David in 1979 destroyed the walks and it had not been rebuilt until now. Fortunately, Hurricane Georges did not cause major damages to the construction now underway.
