Commuters who have to drive through the Navarette crossing from Santiago to Puerto Plata find it hard to understand why the government is taking so long to finish the expansion of the highway. It was begun three years ago and is proceeding at an unusually slow pace for the past year. Nevertheless, the Minister of Public Works promises it will be ready by October. Those driving through say they have heard the promise many times before. The short stretch has become a nightmare of ditches, mud and dust, making it impassible for vehicles other than all terrain types.
