Government declares land of public utility for Las Américas Highway expansion

The measure was established through Decree 270-26, issued on April 22, and includes the acquisition of properties belonging to 45 individuals and nine companies in Boca Chica and Andrés. The government said the project aims to improve traffic flow, road safety, accessibility and mobility while reducing congestion and transportation costs in the eastern Santo Domingo region.

According to the decree, the expansion of Las Américas Highway is expected to boost tourism development, strengthen local infrastructure and improve the overall image of Boca Chica, a key coastal and tourism destination near Las Américas International Airport (AILA).

The Ministry of Public Works and Communications (MOPC) will oversee the project and manage compensation payments for affected properties. Authorities noted that if no agreement is reached with property owners regarding compensation, the ministry may proceed with expropriation through legal procedures established by Dominican law.

Government transparency records show that more than RD$1.28 billion has already been invested in strategic infrastructure works in Boca Chica, including the reconstruction and expansion of Las Américas Highway in the La Caleta-AILA-Boca Chica corridor.

The announcement is part of broader infrastructure and tourism development plans promoted by the Abinader administration, including the “Universal Sanitation of Coastal and Tourist Cities” program financed by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). The US$380 million initiative seeks to improve sanitation and environmental infrastructure along 200 kilometers of coastline from Boca Chica to Punta Cana, benefiting more than one million people.