The Consorcio Autopistas del Nordeste and Boulevard Turistico del Atlantico road companies met with government authorities and neighborhood associations yesterday, Thursday 10 September 2015 to find joint solutions to reduce the traffic accidents on the two highways that they manage. The highways are the only two built under a concessions system that pegs government payments to their usage.
The high cost of tolls means that the roads are underused, which places a heavy burden on taxpayers, due to unfavorable contracts signed during the Leonel Fernandez government.
To exacerbate the problem, the highways are considered among the country’s most dangerous roads due to design and construction flaws that require drivers to comply with the indicated slower set driving speeds.
During a meeting in Monte Plata, the companies called for improved public education and increased awareness among ranchers to prevent them to stop cows and horses from straying from their pastures and walking on to the highway.
They also agreed to implement joint measures such as building municipal pens at strategic points and in villages along the highway, and hiring cowboys to round up the animals that enter the highway.
While the stray animals are a major cause of accidents, the main cause is speeding by drivers. The highway speed limits are 80 kph; 50 kph in the Los Haitises Park area. Most other highways in the country allow for consistent driving speeds of 100 kph.
Autopistas Nordeste y BTA inician plan para evitar accidentes por cruce de animales