VIADOM means more tollbooths

[NewsWhore]

If the government accepts a set of recommendations from the consultants of the VIADOM 2007 program, there will be ten new tollbooths around the country's major roadways. Tolls will be increased by at least 100%, with the money going towards highway repairs and construction. Anyone who uses the highways soon realizes that they are in need of major repairs. According to a study carried out by Auding & Technoamerica, part of the Audi Tec consortium, the best solution would be to lease the 990 kilometers of highway in the VIADOM study to three concessionaires that can finance the repairs with income from the tolls. The consultants consider a 30-year lease to be adequate for the purpose, and the total investment would exceed US$200 million. The report also says that all construction should be finished within five years and the shareholders should get 15% on their investments. Plans call for the first concession to be let in November of this year and the final concession in February 2008. Overall, the VIADOM program is looking at a US$700 million investment, according to Diario Libre, and forms part of the government's program to extend and improve the highway system. Public bids will be held for each of the three main stretches of highways. One is the highway going from the entrance of San Francisco de Macoris to Montecristi, including the Santiago Beltway, and the Montecristi Ring of Guayacanes-Mao-Sabaneta-Dajabon-Montecristi. The central portion includes the Duarte Highway from Santo Domingo to the entrance to SFM, and the continuation of this highway to Nagua. Another section will include the highway from Navarrete to Nagua, via Puerto Plata, Sosua, Cabarete, Gaspar Hernandez and Rio San Juan.

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