The Ministry of Public Works announces that 98% of the 106-km expressway linking Santo Domingo and Samana has been opened, with 10% of the thoroughfare already asphalted, the 13 kilometers to the Carretera Mella crossing. The highway is expected to be open to the public as early as January 2008. At the present time, most resources are directed at the construction of 12 bridges. Engineer Armin Ricardo Garcia Acuna, president of Autopistas del Nordeste, the concessionaire, said that the six first bridges will be ready by July, another four by September and October and the rest in December. The funds for the construction will be recovered at three toll booths located at the rossing of Las Americas and Mella Highway, Villa Mella-Monte Plata and Bayaguana-Cruce de Molinillos. Minister of Public Works said that the highway is costing US$151 million and shorten the distance from Santo Domingo to Samana to about the same time an hour and a half time, making that destination’s beach areas as close as getting to La Romana, for instance. At present, it takes about four hours to travel to beach destinations in Samana from Santo Domingo. From the Las Americas Highway to Rincon de Molinillos is 106 kilometers. The distance to Samana is 170 kms by this route.