Road transformation in the Dominican Republic: The infrastructure plan that connects the country
The Minister of Public Works, Eduardo Estrella, presented a detailed report on the ambitious road infrastructure agenda being executed by the Government under the administration of President Luis Abinader. With the goal of consolidating top-tier connectivity, the plan focuses on optimizing the entrances to Greater Santo Domingo and eliminating the bottlenecks that affect interregional traffic.
According to the official, the official vision not only addresses the needs of the present, but also projects a future where movement across the national territory is fluid and efficient.
New routes to decongest the capital
The project contemplates the creation of three main entrances to the capital, eliminating the dependence on traffic lights on the exit towards the north. Through the construction of strategic overpasses at kilometers 17, 22, and 28 of the Duarte Highway, the goal is for drivers to be able to travel from Montecristi to Punta Cana without traffic light interruptions.
There will be no traffic lights whatsoever to exit Santo Domingo heading north. That will allow someone coming from Montecristi, with other bypasses, to be able to reach Punta Cana without passing through a single traffic light.
Eduardo Estrella, Minister of Public Works
Modernization and strategic bypasses
- Bascule bridge: A new drawbridge over the Ozama River will be awarded, designed to reduce vessel waiting time to just 15 minutes, surpassing the operability of the current floating bridge.
- Duarte Highway: Priority is given to expanding it to six lanes and building safe U-turns to eliminate dangerous crossings.
- Bypasses: The Government is advancing on five major projects, including those in Navarrete, Los Alcarrizos, Moca, San Francisco de Macorís, and La Otra Banda, which will facilitate the transport of cargo and passengers to key points in the country.
Impact in figures
The magnitude of the infrastructure plan is remarkable, with 957 kilometers of roads under construction and the goal of delivering an additional 141 kilometers in the next three months. Regarding the bridge network, the program contemplates the intervention of 220 structures, with 51 already in execution and 21 scheduled for delivery in the short term.
Estrella emphasized that these works, financed in part by the Aerodom renegotiation and other strategic funds, are supervised by a joint public-private commission, ensuring that each project responds to a comprehensive development vision for the country.
