Work Begins on El Coral Highway

Dominican President Leonel Fernández broke ground for the El Coral Highway which is expected to be 70 kilometers in length and cost some $279 million USD.

The Coral Highway will shorten the travel distance between Santo Domingo and Punta Cana by 50 kilometers and will connect practically all the tourist destinations in the eastern part of the country …

Construction is expected to last three years and the highway will form part of the primary network of roads connecting the capital, Santo Domingo, with main cities, airports and tourist destinations in the eastern part of the country, explained Víctor Díaz Rúa, Minister of Public Works and Communications.

The Coral Highway will shorten the travel distance between Santo Domingo and Punta Cana by 50 kilometers and will connect practically all the tourist destinations in the eastern part of the country such as La Romana, Bayahibe, Dominicus, Punta Cana, Bávaro, Cap Cana, Macao and Uvero Alto, where around 60% of the country’s hotels are located, according to the Tourism Ministry.

Mr. Díaz Rúa explained that the environmental impact of the highway will be minimal because the majority of the land to be used is farmland, not ecosystems that can be affected by the construction or functioning of the road.

Those attending the celebration marking the beginning of the construction which took place at the first International Airport roundabout in Punta Cana included Tourism Minister Francisco Javier Garcia; Higher Education, Science and Technology Minister Ligia Amanda Melo; President of the National Association of Hotels and Restaurants (ASONAHORES), Haydee Kuret de Rainieri; President of the Punto Cana Group, Frank Rainieri; Dominican designer Oscar de la Renta; businessman Alejandro Grullón and his wife Melba de Grullón and Monsignor Nicanor Peña, Bishop of the Altagracia Dioceses.

Mr. Díaz Rúa announced that the Public Works Ministry allotted 10 million dollars to the Coral Highway construction company, the Brazilian Odebrecht, to resume construction on the Tourist Boulevard of Punta Cana that will connect to all the hotels in the area thus decreasing the traffic along the old route, known as the Otra Banda. .

Díaz Rúa added that, in the coming days, bids for the construction of Verón-Miches-Sabana de la Mar Crossroads will begin. This road will connect to the Tourist Boulevard by ferry.

At the main table: President Leonel Fernández; Minister of Public Works, Víctor Díaz Rúa; Minister of Tourism Francisco Javier Garcia and President of ASONAHORES, Haydee Kuret de Rainieri.

Minister of Public Works, Víctor Díaz Rúa; Minister of Tourism Francisco Javier Garcia

President Leonel Fernández breaks ground for the construction of the El Coral Highway