The Chamber of Deputies has on its agenda today a review of the request to place US$255 million in sovereign bonds on the market to finance the construction of the Coral Highway. The new highway would link the tourist areas in San Pedro de Macoris (Juan Dolio and Guayacanes) and La Romana (La Romana, Bayahibe and Dominicus) to the cities of Higuey and Veron (cross point for Punta Cana, Macao, Uvero Alto, and Bavaro) in the province of La Altagracia.
\nIf the proposal is accepted by the Chamber of Deputies, it would next move on to the Senate.
\nProponents argue that the highway would link three international airports to the areas in which 70% of all hotel rooms are located.
\nThe original highway plans drawn up during the Fernandez administration had projected a reduced travel time from Santo Domingo to Veron of about a one-hour drive, as it drew a straight line, passing north of La Romana. The new route is now 165 kilometers long, representing an approximate two-hour drive from Santo Domingo. The present trajectory entails a four-hour drive.
\nThe new highway’s route would require the following works:
\nCompleted construction of the San Pedro de Macoris bypass highway (13.1 kms)
\nExpansion of the San Pedro de Macoris-La Romana highway (35.2 kms) to four lanes
\nCompleted construction of the La Romana bypass highway (13.7 kms)
\nDesign and construction of the stretch of the highway from La Romana-Higuey (29 kms)
\nConstruction of the stretch of the Higuey highway to Veron, as per the original plans (33 kms)
\nIn 2001, the Mejia government had announced the concession of the highway to a private company. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Chamber of Deputies has on its agenda today a review of the request to place US$255 million in sovereign bonds on the market to finance the construction of the Coral Highway. The new highway would link the tourist areas in San Pedro de Macoris (Juan Dolio and Guayacanes) and La Romana (La Romana, Bayahibe … <\/p>\n