Minister of Public Works Miguel Vargas announced the start of the San Cristobal-Km. 40 Duarte highway, 28 kilometers at a cost of RD$256 million or US$16 million, a 15-18 month project and a 20-year concession. The Executive Branch sent a bill on the project to Congress for US$11.3 million for the rehabilitation and construction of the San Cristobal-Autopista Duarte and Haina-Autopista Duarte highways by Consorcio Vial Dominicano. El Caribe newspaper questions that 19 kilometers of the highway given in concession are already being rebuilt with a RD$92 million World Bank granted in the past government. The highway stretch should be ready this August. El Caribe says that it is the first time in Dominican history that the state provides a payment guarantee and 20-year concession to collect tolls to recuperate US$16 million to a private company for a highway that is built almost in its entirety. El Caribe points out that the person signing the contract for the company, Hector Evertz is the same person who signed the Jamco contract for US$49 million to build 10 50-bed hospitals and a US$40.9 million deal for the purchase of Hyundai vehicles. El Siglo newspaper reports that the state has granted concessions for the El Coral highway (RD$300 million), Circunvalacion de Santo Domingo (RD$1,200 million) and the Santo Domingo-Samana highway (RD$2,100) million. These contracts are pending congressional approval. Minister of Public Works Vargas also announced the forthcoming start of the San Cristobal-Bani highway, another concession.
