Work Begins on the Second Phase of the Santo Domingo-Samaná Highway

Work Begins on the Second Phase of the Santo Domingo-Samaná Highway

Víctor Díaz Rúa, Dominican Secretary of State for Public Works and Communication, and Armín Santana of the Boulevar Tourism of the Atlantic Company, signed the deal giving the green light to begin construction on the second phase of a highway that will connect Santo Domingo with the Samaná province. The project entails a $103 million-dollar investment.

The deal was signed at a ceremony on the new highway. Engineers Pedro Delgado Malagón and Miguel A. Logroño Di Vanna of the Public Works Ministry were also present, according to a press report released by the President’s Information, Press and Publicity Office.  

Díaz Rúa explained that the north-south Santo Domingo-Samaná highway will pass through all of the touristic areas in the North East region, satisfying the long-time need for residents of the province of Samaná as well as those of tourists who visit the region.

The functionary pointed out that the second phase of the highway project includes the building of a circular road beginning at Kilometer Zero, extending from Nagua and passing through Sánchez toward Samaná. It will continue from Samaná/ Las Terrenas and El Catey passing by the airport to Rincón de Molinillo. The extension will cover 123 kilometers and the work is expected to take approximately two years.

The secretary of Public Works reminded people that, as with the building of the first phase of the Santo Domingo-Samaná highway, financing for the second phase is being carried out through a special concession scheme that does not involve any government funding.

With the work underway and the large earth movers and heavy equipment toiling along the roads, phase two of this highway project will be inaugurated by the government during the first trimester of 2008.