There is a place on the highway between Navarette and Puerto Plata called Llano de Pérez, where the roadway is never perfect, or even very good, for any period of time. This is a reality that every driver that uses the highway on even a semi-regular basis knows well and is prepared for the short, rough stretch of road.
Coming down from the crossroad to Palmar Grande, the road levels out and there it is: a 100-meter stretch of roadway that seemingly is never in good shape. Geologists say that there is a major geological fault line right there and this is what impedes the completion of the work on the new highway. The 48.8 km road has been resurfaced, widened, painted and the guardrail placed, however, this short piece is still giving problems.
Up until now, the problem has been dealt with by road fill, but this does not last very long. As a result of this unwinnable battle against the geology of the area, the construction companies are now considering a bridge as a final solution to the problem. The remodeling of this roadway has been going on in fits and spurts for over three years.
Originally, the highway was to have four lanes, but now it has just been widened to three lanes in most places, with the tunnel and the bridges being the exceptions. Ecocisa, MAR and Hormicondo are the companies involved in the work. The road is important for the business, farm and tourism communities of Puerto Plata and Santiago, and the Cibao region in general.
The Council for the Strategic Development of Santiago (CDES) has also called for the finishing of works on the Tourist Highway between Santiago and the Gran Parada in Puerto Plata. The Gregorio Luperón Tourist Highway dates back over 100 years.
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El Caribe
18 February 2020