Dominican Republic modernizes its road infrastructure and toll system

Santo Domingo.- The Dominican Republic is promoting the development of road infrastructure and toll system with innovative projects and cutting-edge technology, consolidating its regional leadership in connectivity and road safety. This progress is based on the efficient management of resources from the toll system and a comprehensive modernization plan. This was stated by Hostos José Rizik Lugo, general director of RDVIAL, during his participation in the Business Forums 2025: Governmental Management, Challenges, Objectives and Goals, organized by Gala Media Group. Rizik Lugo  explained that the RDVIAL trust, created in 2013, has been key to managing the income from the country’s 17 toll booths in an agile and transparent manner. These resources finance the construction of new roads and the maintenance of the existing network, optimizing road connectivity nationwide.

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Iconic road infrastructure projects under construction

Among the most relevant works delivered or under construction are:

• Azua Ring Road.
• Sections one and two of the Ecological Avenue, plus section three under construction that will connect with Las Américas.
• Baní Ring Road, which is scheduled to open on August 12.
• Navarrete and San Francisco de Macorís Ring Roads.
• Barahona-Enriquillo and Enriquillo-Pedernales highways, vital for connecting the deep south with the Cabo Rojo tourism project.
• Expansion and intervention of the Duarte Highway, a long-term project under execution for several years.

An important milestone is the completion of the southern circuit, which will allow travel from Plaza de la Bandera to Barahona in 174 kilometers without traffic lights, a shorter distance than that from Santo Domingo to Punta Cana.

Maintenance and modernization of the road network

In addition to building new roads, the government is developing a comprehensive maintenance plan based on four pillars:

1. Asphalt quality: pothole repair and preventive maintenance.
2. Modern signage: placement of innovative vertical and horizontal signage.
3. Road lighting: installation of lighting systems from toll booths to critical areas and town accesses.
4. Road cleaning: the Clean Roads program will eliminate improvised landfills and weeds, starting with the Las Américas Highway, the 9 de Noviembre and the Duarte Highway.

Technological Innovation in Tolls

The Paso Rápido toll system is undergoing a renovation with new reading antennas and universal devices installed in all lanes, including those for cash payment. Currently, 54% of the collections come from Paso Rápido, supported by a national campaign that encourages its adoption. In addition, cybersecurity measures have been incorporated, such as verification codes to log in and top up with a credit card, protecting users’ data against potential cyberattacks. In the medium term, the country is preparing to migrate to a barrier-free toll system, similar to that of developed nations.

See forum here