President Hipolito Mejia and Public Works Minister Miguel Vargas Maldonado went through the ceremony of inaugurating La Isabela International Airport, now named Joaquin Balaguer International Airport. Likewise, the government christened the Avenida Presidente Antonio Guzman Fernandez, the access road to the airport that is located in northern Santo Domingo. The airport cost the government RD$1 billion to build, plus US$32 million in equipment. The project was begun during the Fernandez government, at a time when, ironically, most airports in the country were being privatized. While the airport was officially inaugurated yesterday, the start date for operations is yet unknown, as the Federal Aviation Agency has not approved flights there given the potential for problems caused by the thousands of birds in the area due to the nearby Duquesa garbage dump and the La Isabela River ecosystem. The airport was built to relocate small craft operations that take place at present at Herrera International Airport. During the Fernandez government, the center-city grounds where Herrera is located were handed over to government contractors in lieu of debts incurred for the completion of the Duarte Highway expansion.