The new highway connecting the Dominican Republic’s capital city, Santo Domingo, to the popular tourist area of Samana has been open for use for over a year.  However, there are a few sections that have not yet been completed. Currently the drive is about two and a half hours from Santo Domingo to Las Terrenas.  With the new sections completed, it should take about two hours for the same trip.  Before the highway was opened in 2008, the drive was approximately five hours on a road in poor condition. 

According to the following article posted on September 8, 2009 on the Gov Monitor, the Inter-American Development Bank will lend up to $44.8 million to the highway project.  The 99 kilometers of existing highway that connects Nagua, Sanchez, Samana, El Limon, and Las Terrenas will be rehabilitated and there will be a new 24 kilometer route connecting Las Terrenas and Majagual.  

Last year when making the drive from Santo Domingo to Las Terrenas we took a few photos of the new highway.

Here’s the article that appeared in the Gov Monitor:

IDB Supports Toll Highway in Dominican Republic

Project will back development of road infrastructure to improve travel connections in areas with great tourist potential

The Inter-American Development Bank will support a toll highway project that will reduce the travel time between Santo Domingo and the Samaná peninsula, an area with great tourist potential, located in the northeastern part of the Dominican Republic.

Continue reading article: The Gov Monitor