The Ministry of Public Works says that it is in negotiations with Autopistas del Nordeste, the company that built the two-lane Samana expressway. The talks could lead to a monetary agreement that would allow the government to take over the management of the road. This would reduce the high cost of the highway on government finances. The contract has allowed for a “shadow payment” that stipulates a minimum number of users of the road or else an additional payment applies. The rising cost of the tolls has discouraged traffic on the road, which has led to rising shadow payments.
Ironically, the Samana toll road, known as Autopista Juan Pablo II, in honor of Pope John Paul II, has the dubious reputation of having the highest number of fatal accidents per kilometer in the country. And the toll rates to drive on the highway are the most expensive by far than any other toll road in the nation. The highway was the first and only build-operate-transfer (BOT) road built in the Dominican Republic.
Public Works Minister Gonzalo Castillo told Diario Libre that there are areas where the road floods during heavy rains that make for difficult driving. Although there are other known flaws in the design of the highway, Castillo said that not all accidents that have occurred on the road can be attributed to these design flaws. He emphasized that driver carelessness is a major cause of accidents.
It is expected that once the highway management passes to the Ministry of Public Works, the tolls may be reduced. This would encourage more people to use the highway to travel to Samana.
http://www.diariolibre.com/noticias/2015/07/04/i1224881_revisan-contrato-autopista-del-nordeste.html