SANTO DOMINGO.-The Pro-Pedernales Trust announced that it awarded the construction of the Cabo Rojo International Airport airfield to the Spanish group ACCIONA, a contract that contemplates the sum of RD$ 3,961 million, projected to be built within a period of 16 months.
The Cabo Rojo Tourism Development Project consists of a tourism Master Plan promoted by the Dominican State, through the General Directorate of Public-Private Partnerships (DGAPP), which has become one of the main bets of the Government of Luis Abinader, in order to turn the far South into a relevant tourist destination that supports the development of that impoverished region.
It covers a total area of approximately 38 million square meters and consists of four phases over an average of 10 years of implementation with an estimated investment of US$2.245 billion for 12,000 rooms.
The first one stipulates an investment of US$1.3 billion for the construction of 4,700 rooms, the international airport, shopping center and all the basic infrastructure works.
The contract recently announced by the DGAPP is part of the first phase of the plan and includes the construction of a 3.1-kilometer-long and 60-meter-wide runway, as well as a taxiway, stop and safety areas, runway safety strip, aircraft parking platforms with capacity for five Boeing 777, 300 series aircraft, and drainage works.
According to a statement, later, in a second phase, the construction of the control tower, a fire station, the electrical substation and a water and sanitation plant is planned, while in other phases the passenger and cargo terminal will be built.
The executive director of the DGAPP, Sigmund Freund, highlighted the importance of the start of construction on the future Cabo Rojo airport, which will bring new opportunities for employment, entrepreneurship, and development to the communities of Oviedo, Pedernales, and the entire province. "The works that have begun will connect Cabo Rojo, its tourism offerings, and the entire southern region with the world," the official stated.
About ACCIONA
Freund explained that the ACCIONA Group achieved the highest score in the technical proposal evaluation because it was the company with the most experience and qualifications among the three pre-qualified firms. He emphasized that “it is one of the world’s largest Spanish construction companies, with extensive experience in this type of project, as its portfolio includes the construction of more than 10 airports worldwide.”.
It states that ACCIONA was selected after an open, public and transparent bidding process promoted in several “Roadshows” or presentations to investors, both nationally and internationally.
"The Spanish-owned company awarded the contract brings its proven international experience in the management and construction of airport infrastructure, which guarantees that the first stage of the Cabo Rojo Airport project will meet the highest international standards," the DGAPP press release emphasizes.
It adds that the company has participated in the design and construction of more than 40 airport projects, including the construction of the iconic Terminal T4 at Adolfo Suárez-Barajas Airport in Madrid, Spain; the construction of the new terminal at Fiumicino Airport in Rome, Italy; Málaga Airport in Spain; and the new passenger terminal at Barcelona Airport. Recently, it was awarded the contract for the runway rehabilitation project at Porto Airport in Portugal.
Project progress
The DGAPP states that the construction work on the various projects being carried out in the first phase of the Cabo Rojo Tourism Development Project in Pedernales is progressing according to schedule, including the construction of hotels, internal roads, the treatment plant, the installation of the electrical substation, and other works.
Last week, during a visit to Cabo Rojo, the executive director of the DGAPP, Sigmund Freund, showed the details of the model room of the first hotel that will open its doors in the new destination of the Dominican Republic, which will be operated by the renowned Spanish hotel chain Iberostar and will have 580 rooms, under a strict environmental sustainability scheme.
He also announced the progress made on the Secrets and Dreams hotels, which will be operated by the Hyatt Inclusive Collection hotel chain, and which will add 1,515 rooms to the destination, and which together with the Iberostar comprise the first three hotels being built in Cabo Rojo.
