The Ministry of Public Works (MOPC) announced advancing are being made on the repaving and improvements of the Km 15 de Azua to Barahona highway. Minister of Public Works Gonzalo Castillo says that RD$600 million are being invested in the 58 km stretch that connects Azua to Barahona. The construction is part of the Corredor Vial Sur project that calls for the expansion of the highway leading from Baní to Pedernales.
The Ministry says that the stretch from Baní to Azua has been completed and later this year they will complete the Azua-Barahona stretch, including the Azua bypass that should be delivered by 2018. Roadworks are carried out by Constructora Rizek supervised by the Ministry of Public Works.
The Circuito Vial del Sur also includes the Avenida Antonio Méndez Méndez Barahona city bypass, the expansion of the stretch that passes in front of the UASD university in Barahona. Works have been underway on the Barahona-Enriquillo road and the road to Pedernales. Already completed are the Cruce de Ocoa and Ocoa to Sabana Larga road, the San Juan Bypass, with the San Juan-Sabaneta road completed and work still on going on the San Juan-Elías Piña road.
The road improvements coincide with the announcement by Minister of Tourism Francisco Javier García that the government was ready for the start of the construction of 3,000 hotel rooms and an international airport to serve tourism in the Bahía de las Aguilas beach area in southwestern Pedernales.
