SANTO DOMINGO. – Public Works minister Victor Diaz on Wednesday announced that the call for tenders to build Dominican Republic’s North- South cross-mountain highway advances, and construction of the road traced from Santiago to the Southern Highway could start as early as next month.

He said the project includes the reconstruction of the span Piedra Blanca-Rancho Arriba-San José de Ocoa, but noted that “everything can’t be done at once,” in response those who’ve demanded that the road be traced from Constanza to San Juan de la Maguana. “The project advances and those who demand the Constanza to San Juan route have to understand that everything can’t be done at once.”

Interviewed on Hoy Mismo on Colorvision, the official said that all sectors agree on the need to connect to the northern provinces with the South, where he affirms the trace toward the city of Azua offers the shortest distances.

He acknowledged shorter distances including the proposal to rebuild the Constanza-San José de Ocoa road, but noted that environmentalists reject it on its high cost and ecological impact.

Throughout the years the proposals for the North-South road link have included Constanza-Limoncito-Guayabal-Padre Las Casas, and Constanza-Pinal Parejo-Guayabal-Padre Las Casas, which despite shorter distances traced as few as 50 kilometers between northern and southern towns, elevations as high as 7,000 feet would mean costly construction and upkeep, and severe environmental impact.