SANTO DOMINGO.- The demand by motorists to use the new Santo Domingo-Samaná highway prompted its opening to the public as of next Sunday by its builders, who said the “few details” still lacking don’t hinder transit.

"They are small works of paving, the system of signs that are arriving, but this isn’t an inconvenience because the main thing is that the structure is concluded," said the engineer Armín Garcia, president of the company which has the highway’s 30-year concession. Still under construction is the bridge over the Yuna river, which was added to the span and whose completion is slated for the end of August.

He said that although not concluded, hundreds of vehicles use the road daily, causing inconveniences in the construction works.

The 106 kilometer-long road would save time and money for motorists who according to estimates, will save as much as 700 pesos on fuel in each trip, which will take around an hour-and-a-half, compared with the more than four hours it takes through San Francisco, of about 220 kilometers.

“An automobile will pay a 350-peso toll, but will save about 5.5 gallons of fuel, equal to 1,023 pesos, at gasoline’s current price. If you deduct the 350 pesos paid in toll, that person saves 673 pesos by using this road," Garcia said.

The highway’s three toll plazas are on the Las Americas interchange, and in the villages El Naranjal and Guaraguao, where for each section the toll is 650 pesos for buses; 350 for light vehicles; and 860 pesos for trucks.

The engineer stressed that the highway’s vigilance and maintenance guarantee the security of the motorists, with a highway patrol and private security and two ambulances.

Construction of the road, also known as the Santo Domingo-Cruce de Molinillos highway, began in February, 2006, at a cost of US$150 million, of which the government disbursed US$30 million.