President Leonel Fernandez was present for the re-launching of the construction of the Santo Domingo-Samana highway. The government has committed to complete the initial 13-kilometer stretch to Monte Plata. The highway was begun in the past Fernandez administration, following a concession granted to Autopista del Nordeste, the same Colombian-Dominican company that has resumed the construction. The project was abandoned when the depreciation of the peso and the increase in local construction costs sent costs skyrocketing. The company has committed to complete the Monte Plata stretch in three months time.
The 13-km highway to Monte Plata goes north off Las Americas Expressway near the V Centenario Horse Race Track in Santo Domingo. The government is organizing the National Sports Games in Monte Plata this year. President Fernandez said that the completion of the highway would enable several free trade zones that are being installed in Monte Plata to be less than 20 kilometers from Caucedo, the country’s most modern port facility.
The highway would continue on to Samana, bringing the northeast under a two hour drive away from Santo Domingo, a 50% reduction in driving time.