Construction is advancing on the Autov?a del Este, the 56-kilometer link between Boca Chica and La Romana. The highway stretch is estimated to reduce travel between Santo Domingo and La Romana by 40 minutes, with considerable savings in fuel consumption also. Traffic on this expressway will be permitted at speeds of 100 kilometers, up from the 80 kilometer limit of the present highway. Those taking the expressway are estimated to be able to reach La Romana in the same time as those traveling to San Pedro along the present highway. Today, La Romana is a half an hour further East after San Pedro de Macor?s. The highway will also bring considerable savings in travel time and fuel to those traveling further East to the Punta Cana beach area. The four-lane Autov?a del Este is estimated to cost RD$790 million and to be completed prior to the end of this government, by August 2000. The present highway will be developed into a tourism boulevard, to be used primarily by those traveling to Boca Chica and Juan Dolio/Guayacanes area hotels. Plans include the construction of trails for horseback riding and bicycling along the present highway. The government reported that work is also advancing on the Lim?n-Las Terrenas highway in the province of Saman?. This will provide easy access to the Lim?n waterfall. In the North of the island, the Ministry of Public Works said it is working on the expansion of the Santiago-Navarete highway that leads on to Puerto Plata and Monte Cristi. Likewise, the government is building the Santiago bypass highway, at a cost of RD$650 million. This highway will reduce travel time to Puerto Plata by about half an hour as it will enable travelers to avoid the traffic bottlenecks of the city of Santiago. Once completed by mid 2000, one will be able to drive to Puerto Plata in about 2-1/2 hours.
