El Granero del Sur Domestic Airport construction on track

During a supervision tour, Pichardo assessed the progress of various components of the airfield, including the runway, aircraft parking apron, taxiway, and runway safety areas. He also inspected the sites for the terminal building and the Dominican Republic Air Force barracks.

Pichardo also reviewed the efforts of the Dominican Institute of Hydraulic Resources (INDHRI) to relocate existing irrigation canals within the airport grounds. “Progress has been made as established. In this first stage, work is focused on cutting and filling the runway, aircraft parking areas, and the terminal. The perimeter fence is already 100% complete,” Pichardo explained.

He emphasized that President Luis Abinader has highlighted the importance of this airport for the economic and social development of San Juan and the Southwest region, particularly for agriculture, tourism, national security, and rescue operations.

Luis Bonilla, executive director of the San Juan Economic and Social Development Plan, joined Pichardo on the tour and expressed gratitude for the progress. He noted that the airport’s impact will extend beyond agriculture, benefiting health services by facilitating emergency patient transfers. “This is a significant project for us, contributing about 60% to the province’s development,” he remarked.

The airport is being constructed in the Barranca section, at kilometer 7 of the San Juan de la Maguana – Las Matas de Farfán highway, covering 705,000 square meters. It will feature a 1,500-meter long by 30-meter wide runway, a 5,850 m² aircraft parking platform, a 1,500 m² terminal building, and a 350 m² FARD barracks, among other facilities.

Accompanying Pichardo during the tour were Christiern Broberg, director of airport design; Vianca Matos, project supervision head; Jorge Leandro Santana, legal director; and Carlos Pérez de Moya, project manager for El Granero del Sur Domestic Airport.