NewsWhore
09-15-2010, 03:40 PM
The highway between San Cristobal and Bani has taken eight years to construct, spanning three government administrations. According to some commentators, while it is not totally finished, President Leonel Fernandez will inaugurate it this Thursday.
Started by President Hipolito Mejia in 2001, Congress ratified the contract in 2002 and President Mejia symbolically tossed the first shovelful of dirt on 23 April that same year. The highway has been built in fits and starts.
According to El Caribe, several companies were awarded the task of construction, starting with Vial Dominicana, then the Modesto Group and the Ministry of Public Works under Victor Diaz Rua, and then to Malespin Construction Company and JM Constructions supervised by Tecnoamerica.
Over the eight years, costs continued to increase. The original budget was for about US$85 million, and at the beginning of 2008 the Minister of Public Works, Victor Diaz Rua said that the cost would be US$153 million.
The old two-lane highway, heavily trafficked by cargo trucks and with stretches that motivated drivers to speed, was one of the most dangerous in the country, with a grim accident and fatality track record.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#1)
Started by President Hipolito Mejia in 2001, Congress ratified the contract in 2002 and President Mejia symbolically tossed the first shovelful of dirt on 23 April that same year. The highway has been built in fits and starts.
According to El Caribe, several companies were awarded the task of construction, starting with Vial Dominicana, then the Modesto Group and the Ministry of Public Works under Victor Diaz Rua, and then to Malespin Construction Company and JM Constructions supervised by Tecnoamerica.
Over the eight years, costs continued to increase. The original budget was for about US$85 million, and at the beginning of 2008 the Minister of Public Works, Victor Diaz Rua said that the cost would be US$153 million.
The old two-lane highway, heavily trafficked by cargo trucks and with stretches that motivated drivers to speed, was one of the most dangerous in the country, with a grim accident and fatality track record.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#1)