Abinader inaugurates Villa Elisa-Punta Rucia-La Ensenada Highway linking Puerto Plata and Montecristi

Puerto Plata.- President Luis Abinader inaugurated the Villa Elisa-Punta Rucia-La Ensenada Highway on Saturday, ending more than four decades of waiting for a project that promises to transform the northern coast. The 23.2-kilometer road connects Puerto Plata with Montecristi, opening new opportunities for commerce, agriculture, tourism, and overall quality of life for local residents.

With an investment of RD$1.224 billion, the highway benefits several communities in both provinces. Minister of Public Works and Communications, Eduardo Estrella, emphasized its economic impact and noted that additional infrastructure projects worth over RD$1.5 billion are also underway in the region. These include the Santiago Rodríguez and Martín García Guayubín highways, sections in Tillo Palma and Laguna Verde, rehabilitation of the Estrecho Barrancón-La Isabela Histórica Road, and the Navarrete bypass.

The highway, which features a scenic stop overlooking Punta Rucia and La Ensenada, was a longstanding demand from residents, who celebrated its completion as a milestone for development. Abinader received official recognition from the Villa Isabela Municipal Council and the Estero Hondo District Council, who hailed the project as vital for boosting tourism and meeting a 50-year community demand.