Santiago businessmen announced the start of construction of the Aeropuerto Internacional de Cibao in Licey al Medio in Santiago province. The construction is opposed by ecologists and farmers that fear their lands will be affected. Spokesmen for the Corporación Aeropuerto Internacional Cibao say the lands are not appropriate for agriculture. The Licey al Medio location of the airport is promoted as an equi-distant point for the cities of Santiago, Moca, La Vega, San Francisco de Macoris. The airport will be built on 2,400 "tareas" (about 1.5 million square meters) at an investment of US$30 million. The land was contributed to the corporation 20 years ago by the Balaguer administration. José Clase, a business leader of the region, said, "This is the first project of great magnitude that brings together Santiago and regional businessmen." He announced the first phase of the project would be completed in two-years time. The airport is expected to move upwards of 100,000 passengers in its first year. It is slated to be especially important to the development of a new high technology free zone that will go up adjacent to the airport. Nearby, the Avenida de Circunvalación will link the airport to the city of Santiago. The airport will have a 2,450 long meters runway in its first phase. (20 January 2000)
