HATO MAYOR- The Minister of Public Works and Communications, Deligne Ascención, highlighted yesterday the progress in the construction of roads that connect the provinces of Monte Plata, San Pedro de Macorís and Hato Mayor, and pointed out that this contributes to a greater advance of connectivity in the eastern region of the country.
Public Works is working on the Bayaguana-Guerra highway (which leads to the Santo Cristo de los Milagros National Sanctuary). They are also working on the roads connecting Bayaguana and El Puerto; El Puerto and Hato Mayor; and the bridge over the Paña Paña stream in the municipality of Hato Mayor, among others, according to a press release.
Ascención said the detour to Bayaguana is 1.5 kilometers long and was in poor condition. "It's a heavily trafficked route due to the number of houses and the direct access for those traveling from the eastern region to the Bayaguana Sanctuary, in addition to the bullfights that are traditionally held in this municipality," he stated.
He announced that the work would be completed within two weeks, "for the benefit of the religious route and the community itself.".
The governor of Monte Plata province, Rafaela Javier Gomera, said that residents of the Los Cocos sector had been requesting the reconstruction of that road for years. "This was just a rural road, and now, for the first time, it has sidewalks, curbs, and is ready for paving.".
Regarding the Bayaguana-El Puerto highway, the official said that it is 19 kilometers long, and that its construction is already 75 percent complete.
"It is a project that we hope to have completed between November and December, and thus be able to connect the entire Northeast region through San Pedro de Macorís," he emphasized.
He referred to the importance of these works, because they connect the Northeast of the country, through Bayaguana, via the Juan Pablo II Highway (Samaná Highway), the Bayaguana-El Puerto road, and in turn El Puerto-Hato Mayor.
"This direct link serves to integrate Monte Plata with the Eastern region, but also to create connectivity with the Northeast, an area that has great potential for tourism and ecological development, and that will connect with other centers of eventual tourism growth, such as Sabana de la Mar and Miches," he stated.
The Minister of Public Works also estimated that construction of the El Puerto-Hato Mayor highway is 70% complete. This road is 23 kilometers long and includes five bridges and 37 culverts.
He explained that the connectivity between both regions spans 53 kilometers, "and Public Works is responding to the desire of its authorities and the communities that had been patiently waiting."
Engineer Angel Líder, the project supervisor, said that of the five bridges the highway requires, four are already finished, and that the last one is pending the raising of the foundation to place the beams.
The governor of the Hato Mayor province, Julia Mery Vásquez, highlighted that the construction of the Hato Mayor-El Puerto highway will encourage religious tourism in the region.
"From the Holy Christ of Miracles in Bayaguana, the Altagracian Sanctuary, which is ready to be inaugurated, and from there to Las Mercedes in Hato Mayor; Elupina Cordero in Sabana de la Mar, and the Virgin of La Altagracia in the same province, it is a type of tourism that we will also take advantage of thanks to these roads," he said.
During the tour, Minister Ascención was accompanied by the senator of the province of Hato Mayor, Cristóbal Castillo; the vice minister of Supervision and Auditing, Roberto Herrera; the coordinator of Supervision, Robinson Durán, among others.
