On 31 March 2026, President Luis Abinader officially inaugurated the long-awaited expansion and reconstruction of the main entrance to Samaná. The 1.2-kilometer project, timed to welcome visitors at the start of the Holy Week (Semana Santa) holiday, upgrades the gateway to the province to four lanes, aiming to reorganize traffic flow, enhance road safety, and bolster the region’s growing tourism and productive sectors.
The RD$1.2 billion intervention involved a total reconstruction of the road’s structure. To accommodate heavy-duty traffic and the province’s specific geological challenges, engineers used stabilized base and sub-base layers and installed a specialized integrated drainage system.
Given the high presence of groundwater in the area, the drainage system included:
• Standard gutters and culverts.
• Advanced storm drainage and sub-drains to prevent waterlogging.
• Slope stabilization using gabion walls to prevent landslides.
• The replacement of old aqueduct mains with imported ductile iron pipes for increased durability and service reliability.
Minister of Public Works Eduardo Estrella emphasized that the technical specifications were designed for longevity. “This area has significant underground water,” Estrella noted. “The drainage is already functioning to ensure water flows through the gutters rather than seeping into the roadbed. This is a project built to last for many years.”
Strategic economic impact
President Abinader framed the infrastructure as part of a broader provincial strategy. “Economic development is built with infrastructure, institutionalism, the granting of land titles, and job creation,” the President stated. “Samaná is advancing on that path with new investments and improved quality of life for its people.”
The project impacts more than 110,000 residents and visitors directly. Notably, the expansion required the relocation of 141 families. Authorities said the process was handled through continuous dialogue and fair compensation to prioritize the dignity of the impacted households.
Joining the President and the Minister of Public Works for the inauguration were Minister of the Presidency José Ignacio Paliza, Samaná Senator Pedro Catrain, Samana provincial governor Teodora Mullix, Samana City Mayor Nelson Nuñez and former president of the Constitutional Court Milton Ray Guevara, who is a native of Samana.
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Ministry of Public Works
7 April 2026