The Dominican Senate approved the contract between the state, represented by the Ministry of Public Works and the Reservas Trust Society for the operation, maintenance and expansion of the country’s main road network (Fideicomiso RD Vial) yesterday, Wednesday 13 November. Diario Libre reports that the plenary of the Senate accepted the report presented by Senator Tommy Galan who pointed out that the legislation and the contract was backed by Law 189-11 (Development of the Mortgage and Trust Market in the Dominican Republic) and that it is designed to provide transparency in the handling of the tolls collected on the nation’s major highways. The contract stipulates that the Banco de Reservas administration will henceforth administer the tolls collected on the Duarte and Sanchez highways and on the highways in the east, as well as any future toll roads to be built over the 30-year period covered by the contract.
The Ministry of Public Works also announced that six new toll stations will be built on highways where there is an alternative route. He says the new tolls were be placed at the bypass highways of La Romana, Azua, and Santiago, and others at the Santo Domingo-Haina, Duarte and the Duarte Highway-Boca Chica bypass, as reported in El Dia.