Bayaguana.– President Luis Abinader inaugurated this Wednesday the Bayaguana-El Puerto highway, a work that settles a debt outstanding for more than three decades with communities that lacked a safe and efficient route for their development.
The new infrastructure is part of a 103-kilometer road corridor made up of the Hato Mayor–El Puerto, El Puerto–Bayaguana, Bayaguana–Monte Plata and Monte Plata–Cevicos sections.
This axis will link the Eastern Region, from Higüey and El Seibo, with Northeastern provinces such as Sánchez Ramírez, San Francisco de Macorís, María Trinidad Sánchez and Samaná, without having to cross Santo Domingo.
During the event, the Minister of Public Works, Eduardo Estrella, said that the highway reduces travel times, improves road safety and strengthens economic exchange between agricultural, commercial and tourist communities.
He indicated that 27 works are currently being carried out in the province, including streets, bridges, highways and local roads, to exceed 100 kilometers of new connections that will link Cibao Central with the Northeast.
The road directly impacts communities such as El Mamón, Libonao, Los Manantiales, La Lima, Las Cañas, Majagual, El Puerto, Gonzalo and nearby areas, facilitating access to health, education and commerce services, in addition to reducing logistical costs in the transportation of people and goods.
Likewise, it strengthens agricultural production (citrus fruits, cocoa, livestock, ginger and honey) and boosts religious and ecological tourism, by improving access to the Santo Cristo de los Milagros National Sanctuary and other pilgrimage and nature destinations.
The senator of Monte Plata, Pedro Tineo, thanked the president for delivering the work in record time, after more than 30 years of waiting. He highlighted that the highway represents regional development and integration, connecting the East, the South, the Northeast and Cibao.
Meanwhile, the senator of San Pedro de Macorís, Aracelis Villanueva, stated that the infrastructure benefits more than 30 communities in Monte Plata and the east of the country, considering that the best way to bring dignity to the population is through works of this nature.
In the Copey area, where the opening ceremony was held, 2.3 kilometers of streets were paved for the first time, part of the complementary works of the project. Residents expressed their enthusiasm for the intervention.
Yesenia Montero Sánchez expressed that before the highway prevented normal traffic, affecting students and transporters. Juan Rodríguez pointed out that for decades no government had carried out the construction expected by the community.
The Bayaguana-El Puerto highway has an extension of 20.3 kilometers, with two lanes 3.65 meters wide, side walks for pedestrians, sidewalks, drainage and signage, designed for a speed of 80 kilometers per hour. In addition, 2.3 kilometers of urban streets in Bayaguana and Copey were rehabilitated, for a total of 22.6 kilometers intervened.
The work, next to the Villa Riva highway inaugurated this week, consolidates a process of territorial integration that redefines communication between the East and Northeast of the country.
