The newspaper Hoy reports that work is advancing on the planting of grass in areas adjacent to the Barahona International Airport’s 3,300 meter long runway. The newspaper has been following government efforts to ready the airport for use. The grass is being planted under the supervision of the runway’s builders, the Better Roads corporation of Puerto Rico. The grass is needed to prevent objects being sucked into the engines of landing and departing aircraft. It is said that the grass will cost RD$8 million for the 270,000 square meters to be planted.
The Barahona Airport has been the longest delayed in the history of the country. It was begun in 1985 at a projected cost of RD$9 million. Present estimates now indicate that RD$450 million will have been spent by the time of its completion.
The airport is said to have a capacity for 30 jet passenger aircraft daily. There are less than 300 hotel rooms in Barahona at present, but projections indicate more will be built once the airport is open, and that it could also handle passengers interested in visiting neighboring Haiti.