El Caribe reports important advances have been made on the construction of the La Romana International Airport at Batey Cacata in La Altagracia province. The new airport will be close to the Dominicus resorts and to Casa de Campo. It is expected to be also used by residents in La Romana, San Pedro de Macorís, Hato Mayor, El Seibo and Higuey, the main cities in the area and all of which are less than 70 kilometers away. The new airport will also be less than an hour’s drive from the Punta Cana and Bavaro beach strip hotels. The airport will replace the Punta Aguila International Airport that is located within the Casa de Campo resort complex and primarily serves residents in La Romana and guests arriving for that hotel. The new airport is a RD$420 million investment made by the Central Romana Corporation. Construction is ahead of schedule and the airport is expected to be completed by November of this year, with its inauguration set for 15 December. The airport is being built by Moya Supervisiones y Construcciones. It will have a 2,950 meter long and 45 meter wide runway. The airport’s architecture is unique. It has the form of a sugar mill. The 7,500 square meter airport terminal was built to sustain the winds of major hurricanes, and 80% of the facility will be air-conditioned. (16 June 2000)
