AZUA.-Communities such as the Emma Balaguer Project, Playa Monte Rio, La Estancia, Puerto Viejo, Las Clavelinas, La Ceiba, La Ciénega, Sabana Yegua, Las Barias, El Rosario and the Azua Free Zone, are part of the more than 800,000 inhabitants who will benefit from the newly opened bypass, inaugurated here yesterday, with an investment that exceeded 5 billion pesos, according to figures provided by the Government.
President Luis Abinader inaugurated the project, which, according to his statements, will expedite vehicular traffic to and from the nine provinces that make up the South, South-Central and Southwest regions.
In his speech, the president emphasized that this settles a debt accumulated over many decades, benefits a large population, who will see their local economy revitalized and feel the economic growth and impact on their own and their family networks.
He stated that the Azua Bypass represents a great boost to the great Southern Road Circuit, which in a comprehensive way will enable the definitive take-off that this region needs to consolidate its development.
In that regard, he explained that the infrastructure has been conceived as one of the pillars on which the great comprehensive development project of the entire Southern Region is based, and that its implementation facilitates the direct and fluid connection between the provinces, connecting them with Santo Domingo and the National District, thus achieving a significant benefit for its users, with the reduction of time and distance.
The governor explained that this project, which begins at the entrance to the city of Azua, covers a distance of 13.5 kilometers to rejoin the Sánchez highway, crossing the Jura River, at the entrance to the community of Los Jovillos and also very close to the Azua Free Zone.
He pointed out that this project, which had progressed less than 30% in 8 years, was completed by his administration in just one year, with the remaining 70% being finished.
“We don’t respond to the normal accusations from the opposition in a democratic society, we don’t respond verbally, we respond with actions. And whoever wants to see me come after them, let them see a real development plan, a plan that is producing results, not because the government says so, but because all the statistics say so,” Abinader stated.
They exceed expectations
The project, which began construction during the administration of former President Hipólito Mejía, has far exceeded initial expectations, thanks to the high quality of its construction, the additional and modern elements that complement it, as well as the landscaping and the panoramic views of this road, which gives a very good impression and completely changes the face of this important province of Azua.
"This will greatly benefit the major tourism development we have begun in the province of Pedernales, where the government has significant initiatives and investments in the tourism sector, since road trips to and from that area necessarily pass through Azua, saving drivers at least an hour and a half of travel time between those two points," Abinader stated.
To radically transform the Dominican Republic
He stated that the most effective way to bring about the change he promotes is by assuming the responsibility of radically transforming the Dominican Republic, and starting to do so through the arteries that connect it throughout the country.
That is why, he said, he gave priority to the construction of this very important road that he is inaugurating today, the Southern Ring Road of the historic and brave City of Azua de Compostela, First City of the South.
“Even before I was sworn in as President, I was very clear about the goals I wanted to achieve for our country, and what I wanted to leave as a legacy for the people who trusted me and the government project I have led ever since. And it was always in my mind to do everything possible to repay the historical debt that the country owes to the Southern Region,” Abinader stated.
The leader called on the population to take care of development and progress and assured that the government is willing to continue acting with the transparency that has characterized it.
“My dear people of Azua and my dear friends from all the southern provinces, it is up to us, with this project and the others I have mentioned, with the development of Pedernales and with the San Juan Plan, to defend the progress and development of the south and of the Dominican Republic,” concluded the head of Es
For his part, the Minister of Public Works, Deligne Ascención, explained that the resources for the project came from local funds from the National Budget and resources from the RD-Vial Trust, resulting from the collections from payments made at toll stations by citizens traveling on the main highways throughout the country.
He stated that this region had never before seen an investment of such magnitude as the one being carried out by the current government, and specified that the project being inaugurated today was found to be 30% complete since its inception in 2012, as they had exhausted their budget and the 25% addendum needed to continue with the construction work.
“This is a project that began construction in 2012 under an emergency declaration, but eight years passed and only 30% of the work was completed. When you arrived, you resumed the project, and it was necessary to include it in Law 128-21, which allowed projects that had exhausted their budget and the 25% addendum to continue and complete the construction work,” Ascención explained.
Ascención indicated that the new road, by bypassing the urban center of Azua, will reduce traffic congestion in the city center, environmental pollution, high operational costs, and the longer travel times currently experienced by both residents of this locality and users of through traffic traveling to the Valdesia, El Valle, and Enriquillo regions.
He stated that the economic and social impact of the new ring road is explained by the fact that it is part of the road circuit that includes the improvement and expansion of the 6 de Noviembre highway, the Baní Ring Road, and the reconstruction and modernization of the Barahona-Enriquillo and Enriquillo-Pedernales highways.
