This project, together with the delivery of the Enriquillo-Pedernales and Cabo Rojo-Cueva de Pescadores section, will reduce the arrival time from Barahona to the beautiful beaches in the area by more than half an hour.
On Thursday, President Luis Abinader led the opening ceremony of the first stage of the Barahona-Enriquillo highway, built by the Ministry of Public Works and Communications (MOPC). It cost 1,821 million pesos and is a crucial part of the investment plan aiming to develop the Pedernales tourist center.
President Abinader stated that with the road development in his government, together with the Enriquillo-Pedernales highway currently in the reconstruction phase, the Azua bypass in operation, and the soon to be completed Baní circulation, travel time from Santo Domingo to Pedernales will be reduced by approximately an hour and a half, highlighting the economic significance of this destination.
The Vice Minister of Planning and Supervision of Public Works highlighted the significance of President Abinader’s public investments and public-private alliances, emphasizing the positive impact on the nation’s infrastructure and economic growth. He also mentioned that other interventions, such as the improvement of Enriquillo Lake basin’s secondary roads and the section delivered of the Enriquillo-Pedernales highway, are part of this plan.
President Luis Abinader during the inauguration. (External source).
He mentioned this first stage of the project covered 20.5 kilometers and included road section renovations, bridge renewals, and addition of panoramic viewpoints.
The modernization of the highway has been carried out by the construction company Inversores del Caribe, for an amount of 1,821 million pesos.
He added that modernizing the highway includes the reconstruction of 45.5 kilometers of two lanes, with 3.65-meter width and 1.5-meter buffer walk on each side, fully paved. This will be delivered in the next three months.
The project, along with the delivery of the Enriquillo-Pedernales and Cabo Rojo-Cueva de Pescadores sections, which are in the advanced construction process, will reduce the arrival time from Barahona to the area’s beautiful beaches by more 30 minutes, ensuring safe travel conditions.
The works are aimed to improve the lives of thousands of people in the municipality of Paraíso and the Enriquillo region. The new road will also benefit the farmers and merchants who transport their products through the highway.
He expressed that the government builds transparent works aimed to develop the country and benefit the citizens through integrated territorial development and a more prosperous and safe life for all Dominicans.
The activity was attended by the Minister of the Presidency, Joel Santos; the provincial governor, Genara González; the mayor of Barahona, Míctor Fernández; the vice ministers of MOPC Mélito Santana and José del Carmen Montero, among others.