As of tomorrow, Saturday 22 February, drivers heading from Santo Domingo to Puerto Plata will no longer have to negotiate traffic jams in Santiago, the country’s second largest city. The Ministry of Public Works announced that the bypass would be open for public use starting at 6am tomorrow. The formal inauguration is set for Monday, 24 February at 4pm. On that day, the road will be closed at noon for the ceremony but will reopen on Tuesday, 25 February at 6am.
Minister of Public Works Gonzalo Castillo also encouraged drivers to observe the many works of art that have been placed alongside the highway.
He congratulated Brazilian company Odebrecht and the Grupo Estrella for their fast completion of the highway.
The highway was initially announced 15 years ago, but successive governments delayed its implementation.
Castillo said that the government is advanced on the completing the Santo Domingo, Azua, after finishing bypasses to San Pedro and La Romana in the east.
A tender is due to be announced in May for the bypass for Bani. The highways considerably reduce passenger and cargo costs. The Medina administration has moved ahead with the bypasses that divert traffic out of the city centers.