The highway that has been described as key for the development of mining operations in the southwest and central mountain areas received a boost when the PLD-majority Chamber of Deputies confirmed two loans from the Brazilian export bank (BNDES) for highway constructions.
The Chamber of Deputies approved new loans for US$612 million yesterday, Tuesday 28 October 2014.
Of the total, US$298.7 million will be contracted with the Brazilian export bank BNDES for the construction of the Piedra Blanca-Cruce de Ocoa stretch of the Cibao-Sur highway, allocated to Consorcio Cibao-Sur made up by the builders Norberto Odebrecht (Brazil) and Rizek y Asociados (DR).
The Ministry of Public Works recently announced that it would not undertake the highway because of the high cost, but is apparently tackling it by sections instead.
The Chamber of Deputies also approved a resolution for US$295.5 million worth of public works signed between the Ministry of Public Works and the Consorcio Corredor Duarte made up by Odebrecht and Ingenieria Estrella. The funds will enable the construction of the 7.5 km Corredor Ecologico Pontezuela in Santiago along with other public works.
As part of the new borrowing, the Chamber of Deputies approved the commercial bank loan by BNP Paribas for US$17.9 million to complete the construction of the Azua II-Pueblo Viejo Risk Management System.