La Altagracia province community leaders are seeking the support of President Hipolito Mejia to keep the original route for the Autovia del Este, the eastern highway. A Central Romana proposal wants to reroute the present highway so that it passes closer to La Romana, but La Altagracia provincial leaders reject this. The original project stipulates the new highway will cross through the center of the Oriental plains and would reduce the driving time from Santo Domingo to Punta Cana-Macao tourist destinations from three and a half hours to one and a half. Community leaders gathered in Higuey to urge that the highway which starts in San Pedro de Macoris pass near Ramon Santana, by Higueral (8 kilometers from La Romana), next to Guaymate and five kilometers from Higuey on to Veron in Punta Cana. La Altagracia spokespeople say it would pass 10 minutes away from the La Romana city bypass which is under construction. (15 May 2001)
