DR-1
Encyclopedia
DR-1 is a dual carriageway
highway that forms part of the five designated national highways of the Dominican Republic
. DR-1 provides a fast connection between Santo Domingo
, the capital, on the southern coast, and the second city Santiago
and the rest of the northerly Cibao
region, one of the country's main regions.
DR-1's southern terminus is the Expreso John F Kennedy in the City of Santo Domingo. The highway emerges from Greater Santo Domingo as Autopista Juan Pablo Duarte, and after reaching its midpoint, Santiago, it changes name to Autopista Joaquín Balaguer.
DR-1 is one of the oldest and most efficient highways in the nation. Construction began during the period of Joaquín Balaguer and finished under Leonel Fernández
in the year of 1996–1997. Renovations and upgrades have been done ever since, with many future ones like the Viaduct from Los Alcarrizos
to the National District
being in construction stages.
) to its northern terminus in Monte Cristi on the Dominican-Haitian Border, the highway changes names and quality slightly deteriorates farther from Santo Domingo
. DR-1 connects Santo Domingo to the Cibao
region known for its fertile valley responsible of producing most of the country's agricultural exports. DR-1 also connects Santo Domingo with the Dominican Republic's second largest city, Santiago de los Caballeros
.
and almost the whole D.N. In this area, unlike its parallel Expreso, it is not composed of Tunnels but instead only by long express viaducts and at ground a three lane local service road. The Beginning of this corridor is marked at the western end of the Avenida Quinto Centenario. This Expreso was finished in the year of 1998-9 to relieve intense congestion in the growing city of Santo Domingo. The Expreso intercepts the three main North-south avenues of the D.N, the Wiston Churchill, Lincoln, and Maximo Gomez.
The Corridor does not cross the Ozama River, because it begins after that but is connected to Santo Domingo Este
by the Avenue Quinto Centenario/San Vicente de Paul.
to the Wiston Churchill avenue in Distrito Nacional
in important intersections along the path. As of the present, overpasses
are being constructed in the intersections of Expreso JFK-Defillo, Nunez De Cacerez avenues and Autopista Duarte-Manoguayabo, and Monumental avenues. The completion of this Corridor will make the highway express and alleviate the current congestion when entering the capital
city. The completion of such viaducts will improve travel speeds for the motorist trying to travel between Santiago de los Caballeros
and Santo Domingo
. As of June 10th, 2010, the project is in very advanced stages and said to be completed by the end of 2010. This project combined with the current construction of Line 2 of Santo Domingo Metro
would be of great help for the crosstown commuters that live in Los Alcarrizos
and Santo Domingo Oeste
and need to travel east into the Distrito Nacional
or Santo Domingo Este
. Currently many traffic alterations and re-routing are taking place as these projects remain in construction causing temporary discomfort and delay to citizens.
The highway exits Santo Domingo Oeste
and is renamed to Autopista Juan Pablo Duarte in honor of the founding father. Autopista Duarte runs north north-west for much of its run towards the northwest corner of the Republic. On its run it connects Santo Domingo
to the suburb Pedro Brand located about 20 kilometers away from the city-center
and then goes northwest into the outskirts of Villa Altagracia
. Continuing further north it makes a junction with DR-17 which connects it to the small towns of Maimon and Cotuí
. To the north DR-1 bypasses the city of Bonao
and intersects to DR-12 which serves as a direct connection to the fertile town of Constanza
. Father northward almost reaching La Vega DR-1 intersects DR-19 which is the main roadway that leads to the major city of San Francisco de Macorís
. DR-1 then proceeds to enter the outskirts of La Vega and connects to DR-21 which serves as a connection to the small town of Moca
located slightly south-east of Santiago de los Caballeros
. The highway then enters the city center of Santiago de los Caballeros
where it currently ends.
. A highway gap between Autopista Juan Pablo Duarte and Joaquín Balaguer of about 5 kilometers in distance through the city of Santiago is yet to be filled and as of now, the only alternative to this problem is exiting on Salvador Estrella Sadhala avenue and continuing northwest in the avenue until reaching a junction with the continuation of DR-1 from this point onward renamed as Joaquin Balaguer. The government has yet to decide a plan to fix this issue and the possible solution which is the construction of the Circunvalacion Norte avenue has been on hold for more than a decade. The gap is the cause of daily congestion and delays for travelers trying to bypass the city of Santiago. This is a similar case to what happens in the city of Bani with DR-2
which also has a several kilometers long gap. Many other cases of discontinuity in Dominican highways have been properly fixed (DR-3
in San Pedro de Macoris and La Romana) but others remain to be attended.
After the interruption In Santiagos de los Caballeros, the highway is re-named again for a third time as Autopista Joaquín Balaguer in honor of the Dominican president. In this last part of the highway it continues its path to the northwest towns of the republic until reaching the westernmost town, Monte Cristi. North of Santiago the quality of the highway and the organization deteriorates and is of lesser quality than other national highways. Highway exits are in the most part improvised and could be of danger to traveling motorist. The highways serves as an important junction to DR-5
which connects to the cities of Puerto Plata and the northern coast. The highway ends in San Fernando de Monte Cristi
close to the northern tip of the Dominican-Haitian Border.
Dual carriageway
A dual carriageway is a class of highway with two carriageways for traffic travelling in opposite directions separated by a central reservation...
highway that forms part of the five designated national highways of the Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
. DR-1 provides a fast connection between Santo Domingo
Santo Domingo
Santo Domingo, known officially as Santo Domingo de Guzmán, is the capital and largest city in the Dominican Republic. Its metropolitan population was 2,084,852 in 2003, and estimated at 3,294,385 in 2010. The city is located on the Caribbean Sea, at the mouth of the Ozama River...
, the capital, on the southern coast, and the second city Santiago
Santiago de los Caballeros
Santiago de los Caballeros is a city in the Dominican Republic. Founded in 1495 during the first wave of European colonization of the New World, today Santiago is the second largest metropolis in the Dominican Republic, located in the north-central region of the Republic known as Cibao valley...
and the rest of the northerly Cibao
Cibao
Cibao, usually referred as "El Cibao", is a region of the Dominican Republic located at the northern part of the country.The Taíno word Cibao, meaning "place where rocks abound", was originally applied to the central mountain range, and used during the Spanish conquest to refer to the rich and...
region, one of the country's main regions.
DR-1's southern terminus is the Expreso John F Kennedy in the City of Santo Domingo. The highway emerges from Greater Santo Domingo as Autopista Juan Pablo Duarte, and after reaching its midpoint, Santiago, it changes name to Autopista Joaquín Balaguer.
DR-1 is one of the oldest and most efficient highways in the nation. Construction began during the period of Joaquín Balaguer and finished under Leonel Fernández
Leonel Fernández
Leonel Antonio Fernández Reyna is a Dominican lawyer, academic, and the current President of the Dominican Republic since 2004. He held the same office from 1996 to 2000...
in the year of 1996–1997. Renovations and upgrades have been done ever since, with many future ones like the Viaduct from Los Alcarrizos
Los Alcarrizos
Los Alcarrizos is a municipality of the Santo Domingo province in the Dominican Republic. Within the municipality there are the following municipal districts : Palmarejo-Villa Linda and Pantoja....
to the National District
Distrito Nacional
The Distrito Nacional is a subdivision of the Dominican Republic enclosing the capital Santo Domingo. It is not within any of the provinces, but is itself counted as a province. Before October 16, 2001, the Distrito Nacional was much larger, including what is now known as Santo Domingo Province....
being in construction stages.
Route description
From its southern terminus in the D.N (Santo DomingoSanto Domingo
Santo Domingo, known officially as Santo Domingo de Guzmán, is the capital and largest city in the Dominican Republic. Its metropolitan population was 2,084,852 in 2003, and estimated at 3,294,385 in 2010. The city is located on the Caribbean Sea, at the mouth of the Ozama River...
) to its northern terminus in Monte Cristi on the Dominican-Haitian Border, the highway changes names and quality slightly deteriorates farther from Santo Domingo
Santo Domingo
Santo Domingo, known officially as Santo Domingo de Guzmán, is the capital and largest city in the Dominican Republic. Its metropolitan population was 2,084,852 in 2003, and estimated at 3,294,385 in 2010. The city is located on the Caribbean Sea, at the mouth of the Ozama River...
. DR-1 connects Santo Domingo to the Cibao
Cibao
Cibao, usually referred as "El Cibao", is a region of the Dominican Republic located at the northern part of the country.The Taíno word Cibao, meaning "place where rocks abound", was originally applied to the central mountain range, and used during the Spanish conquest to refer to the rich and...
region known for its fertile valley responsible of producing most of the country's agricultural exports. DR-1 also connects Santo Domingo with the Dominican Republic's second largest city, Santiago de los Caballeros
Santiago de los Caballeros
Santiago de los Caballeros is a city in the Dominican Republic. Founded in 1495 during the first wave of European colonization of the New World, today Santiago is the second largest metropolis in the Dominican Republic, located in the north-central region of the Republic known as Cibao valley...
.
Expreso John F Kennedy
The Expreso John F Kennedy is an urban express corridor parallel to the Expreso 27 de Febrero crossing all of Downtown Santo DomingoDowntown Santo Domingo
Downtown Santo Domingo or better known as Polígono Central is a term used to group several neighborhoods located in central Santo Domingo, D.N, Dominican Republic defined as the area delineated by John F Kennedy Avenue on the north , on the west by Wiston Churchill avenue, on the east by Maximo...
and almost the whole D.N. In this area, unlike its parallel Expreso, it is not composed of Tunnels but instead only by long express viaducts and at ground a three lane local service road. The Beginning of this corridor is marked at the western end of the Avenida Quinto Centenario. This Expreso was finished in the year of 1998-9 to relieve intense congestion in the growing city of Santo Domingo. The Expreso intercepts the three main North-south avenues of the D.N, the Wiston Churchill, Lincoln, and Maximo Gomez.
The Corridor does not cross the Ozama River, because it begins after that but is connected to Santo Domingo Este
Santo Domingo Este
Santo Domingo Este is a municipality and the provincial capital of the Santo Domingo province in the Dominican Republic. Within the municipality there is one municipal district : San Luis.....
by the Avenue Quinto Centenario/San Vicente de Paul.
Corredor Duarte
As of 2011, the Ministry of Public Works and Communications (Ministro de Obras Publicas y Comunicaciones) is involved in the construction of a series of elevated viaducts along DR-1 from Los AlcarrizosLos Alcarrizos
Los Alcarrizos is a municipality of the Santo Domingo province in the Dominican Republic. Within the municipality there are the following municipal districts : Palmarejo-Villa Linda and Pantoja....
to the Wiston Churchill avenue in Distrito Nacional
Distrito Nacional
The Distrito Nacional is a subdivision of the Dominican Republic enclosing the capital Santo Domingo. It is not within any of the provinces, but is itself counted as a province. Before October 16, 2001, the Distrito Nacional was much larger, including what is now known as Santo Domingo Province....
in important intersections along the path. As of the present, overpasses
Overpass
An overpass is a bridge, road, railway or similar structure that crosses over another road or railway...
are being constructed in the intersections of Expreso JFK-Defillo, Nunez De Cacerez avenues and Autopista Duarte-Manoguayabo, and Monumental avenues. The completion of this Corridor will make the highway express and alleviate the current congestion when entering the capital
Santo Domingo
Santo Domingo, known officially as Santo Domingo de Guzmán, is the capital and largest city in the Dominican Republic. Its metropolitan population was 2,084,852 in 2003, and estimated at 3,294,385 in 2010. The city is located on the Caribbean Sea, at the mouth of the Ozama River...
city. The completion of such viaducts will improve travel speeds for the motorist trying to travel between Santiago de los Caballeros
Santiago de los Caballeros
Santiago de los Caballeros is a city in the Dominican Republic. Founded in 1495 during the first wave of European colonization of the New World, today Santiago is the second largest metropolis in the Dominican Republic, located in the north-central region of the Republic known as Cibao valley...
and Santo Domingo
Santo Domingo
Santo Domingo, known officially as Santo Domingo de Guzmán, is the capital and largest city in the Dominican Republic. Its metropolitan population was 2,084,852 in 2003, and estimated at 3,294,385 in 2010. The city is located on the Caribbean Sea, at the mouth of the Ozama River...
. As of June 10th, 2010, the project is in very advanced stages and said to be completed by the end of 2010. This project combined with the current construction of Line 2 of Santo Domingo Metro
Santo Domingo Metro
The Santo Domingo Metro is a rapid transit system in Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic. The Santo Domingo Metro is part of a major "National Master Plan" to improve transportation in Santo Domingo as well as the rest of the nation. The first line was planned to relieve traffic...
would be of great help for the crosstown commuters that live in Los Alcarrizos
Los Alcarrizos
Los Alcarrizos is a municipality of the Santo Domingo province in the Dominican Republic. Within the municipality there are the following municipal districts : Palmarejo-Villa Linda and Pantoja....
and Santo Domingo Oeste
Santo Domingo Oeste
Santo Domingo Oeste is a municipality of the Santo Domingo province in the Dominican Republic. As of the 2008 census the municipality had 701,847 inhabitants, 432,112 living in the city itself and 269,735 in its rural districts ....
and need to travel east into the Distrito Nacional
Distrito Nacional
The Distrito Nacional is a subdivision of the Dominican Republic enclosing the capital Santo Domingo. It is not within any of the provinces, but is itself counted as a province. Before October 16, 2001, the Distrito Nacional was much larger, including what is now known as Santo Domingo Province....
or Santo Domingo Este
Santo Domingo Este
Santo Domingo Este is a municipality and the provincial capital of the Santo Domingo province in the Dominican Republic. Within the municipality there is one municipal district : San Luis.....
. Currently many traffic alterations and re-routing are taking place as these projects remain in construction causing temporary discomfort and delay to citizens.
Autopista Juan Pablo Duarte
Santo Domingo Oeste
Santo Domingo Oeste is a municipality of the Santo Domingo province in the Dominican Republic. As of the 2008 census the municipality had 701,847 inhabitants, 432,112 living in the city itself and 269,735 in its rural districts ....
and is renamed to Autopista Juan Pablo Duarte in honor of the founding father. Autopista Duarte runs north north-west for much of its run towards the northwest corner of the Republic. On its run it connects Santo Domingo
Santo Domingo
Santo Domingo, known officially as Santo Domingo de Guzmán, is the capital and largest city in the Dominican Republic. Its metropolitan population was 2,084,852 in 2003, and estimated at 3,294,385 in 2010. The city is located on the Caribbean Sea, at the mouth of the Ozama River...
to the suburb Pedro Brand located about 20 kilometers away from the city-center
Downtown Santo Domingo
Downtown Santo Domingo or better known as Polígono Central is a term used to group several neighborhoods located in central Santo Domingo, D.N, Dominican Republic defined as the area delineated by John F Kennedy Avenue on the north , on the west by Wiston Churchill avenue, on the east by Maximo...
and then goes northwest into the outskirts of Villa Altagracia
Villa Altagracia
Villa Altagracia is a municipality of the San Cristóbal province in the Dominican Republic. Within the municipality there are three municipal districts : La Cuchilla, Medina and San José del Puerto....
. Continuing further north it makes a junction with DR-17 which connects it to the small towns of Maimon and Cotuí
Cotuí
Cotuí is a city in the Dominican Republic and is one of the oldest cities of the New World. It is the capital of Sánchez Ramírez Province in the Cibao. It was founded in the year 1510 by Rodrigo de Trujillo for order of Nicolas de Ovando, who was the governor of Hispaniola. Cotuí was the name of...
. To the north DR-1 bypasses the city of Bonao
Bonao
Bonao is the capital of Monseñor Nouel province, Dominican Republic. It is located in the center of the country, to the northwest of the national capital Santo Domingo.The city is known as "Villa De Las Hortensias" - the town of hortensias...
and intersects to DR-12 which serves as a direct connection to the fertile town of Constanza
Constanza, Dominican Republic
-History:The name of Constanza has its origin in the legend the daughter of a local taino cacique whom lived in the valley. In 1852, the British explorer and consul Sir Robert Hermann Schomburgk mentions the existence of a farm in the valley of Constanza. The town was formally founded in 1894...
. Father northward almost reaching La Vega DR-1 intersects DR-19 which is the main roadway that leads to the major city of San Francisco de Macorís
San Francisco de Macorís
San Francisco de Macorís is a city in the Dominican Republic. It is also the capital of the Duarte Province. It has had a very active role in the shaping of Dominican history, as it is known as one of, if not the most, politically active cities in the country. It is located in the northeast portion...
. DR-1 then proceeds to enter the outskirts of La Vega and connects to DR-21 which serves as a connection to the small town of Moca
Moca
Moča is a village and municipality in the Komárno District in the Nitra Region of south-western Slovakia.-Geography:The village lies at an altitude of 110 metres and covers an area of 17.991 km².It has a population of about 1,170 people....
located slightly south-east of Santiago de los Caballeros
Santiago de los Caballeros
Santiago de los Caballeros is a city in the Dominican Republic. Founded in 1495 during the first wave of European colonization of the New World, today Santiago is the second largest metropolis in the Dominican Republic, located in the north-central region of the Republic known as Cibao valley...
. The highway then enters the city center of Santiago de los Caballeros
Santiago de los Caballeros
Santiago de los Caballeros is a city in the Dominican Republic. Founded in 1495 during the first wave of European colonization of the New World, today Santiago is the second largest metropolis in the Dominican Republic, located in the north-central region of the Republic known as Cibao valley...
where it currently ends.
Discontinuity in Santiago de los Caballeros
As DR-1 enter the city of Santiago de los Caballeros, it abruptly ends meters in front of the Monument to the Heroes of RestorationMonumento de Santiago
The Monumento a los Héroes de la Restauración is a monument in the city of Santiago de los Caballeros in the Dominican Republic. It was originally built during the dictatorship of Rafael Leónidas Trujillo in 1944 as "Trujillo's Monument to Peace." He ordered its construction in his own honor...
. A highway gap between Autopista Juan Pablo Duarte and Joaquín Balaguer of about 5 kilometers in distance through the city of Santiago is yet to be filled and as of now, the only alternative to this problem is exiting on Salvador Estrella Sadhala avenue and continuing northwest in the avenue until reaching a junction with the continuation of DR-1 from this point onward renamed as Joaquin Balaguer. The government has yet to decide a plan to fix this issue and the possible solution which is the construction of the Circunvalacion Norte avenue has been on hold for more than a decade. The gap is the cause of daily congestion and delays for travelers trying to bypass the city of Santiago. This is a similar case to what happens in the city of Bani with DR-2
DR-2
DR-2 is the second numbered national highway in the Dominican Republic. Its common name is Carretera Sánchez in honor of Francisco del Rosario Sánchez one of the founding fathers and in the city of Santo Domingo it is known as Autopista 30 de Mayo. The highway serves as the main connection to the...
which also has a several kilometers long gap. Many other cases of discontinuity in Dominican highways have been properly fixed (DR-3
DR-3
DR-3 is one of three main dual carriageway highways of the Dominican Republic, connecting Santo Domingo to the eastern cities of the republic. The highway begins at the Plaza de La Bandera, on the western side of Santo Domingo, and travels eastward through downtown Santo Domingo and continues east...
in San Pedro de Macoris and La Romana) but others remain to be attended.
Autopista Joaquín Balaguer
DR-5
DR-5 is of one of the main highways in the Dominican Republic. The highway begins at a T-interchange with DR-1 in Villa Visonó in the small town of Navarrete located about 20 kilometers northwest of Santiago de los Caballeros. Initially...
which connects to the cities of Puerto Plata and the northern coast. The highway ends in San Fernando de Monte Cristi
San Fernando de Monte Cristi
San Fernando de Monte Cristi is the capital of Monte Cristi Province, Dominican Republic.It is located in the northwest of the country in the coastal lowlands, close to the border with Haiti.- History :...
close to the northern tip of the Dominican-Haitian Border.
Major intersections
| Cities | Major intersections | Distance from Santo Domingo |
|---|---|---|
| Santo Domingo Santo Domingo Santo Domingo, known officially as Santo Domingo de Guzmán, is the capital and largest city in the Dominican Republic. Its metropolitan population was 2,084,852 in 2003, and estimated at 3,294,385 in 2010. The city is located on the Caribbean Sea, at the mouth of the Ozama River... |
DR-4 DR-4 DR-4 is the fourth numbered highway of the Dominican Republic. It starts from Santo Domingo eastwards to San Pedro de Macoris and then to the north to Hato Mayor del Rey and again eastwards ending in the San Rafael del Yuma .... , DR-3 DR-3 DR-3 is one of three main dual carriageway highways of the Dominican Republic, connecting Santo Domingo to the eastern cities of the republic. The highway begins at the Plaza de La Bandera, on the western side of Santo Domingo, and travels eastward through downtown Santo Domingo and continues east... |
0 km, begins here |
| Villa Altagracia Villa Altagracia Villa Altagracia is a municipality of the San Cristóbal province in the Dominican Republic. Within the municipality there are three municipal districts : La Cuchilla, Medina and San José del Puerto.... |
-- | -- |
| Piedra Blanca Piedra Blanca Piedra Blanca is a city in Monseñor Nouel province, Dominican Republic.... |
DR-Route 17 | -- |
| Bonao Bonao Bonao is the capital of Monseñor Nouel province, Dominican Republic. It is located in the center of the country, to the northwest of the national capital Santo Domingo.The city is known as "Villa De Las Hortensias" - the town of hortensias... |
-- | 85 km |
| Concepción de la Vega Concepción de La Vega La Vega, or Concepción de La Vega is the largest city and municipality of the central Dominican Republic and the third of the whole country... |
DR-Route 21 | 125 km |
| Santiago de los Caballeros Santiago de los Caballeros Santiago de los Caballeros is a city in the Dominican Republic. Founded in 1495 during the first wave of European colonization of the New World, today Santiago is the second largest metropolis in the Dominican Republic, located in the north-central region of the Republic known as Cibao valley... |
DR-Route 25, DR-Route 14 | 155 km |
| Villa Bisonó Villa Bisonó Villa Bisonó, usually known as Navarrete, is a small municipality in the Dominican Republic northwestern section, created in 1956. It lies approximately from Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic's second largest city... |
DR-5 DR-5 DR-5 is of one of the main highways in the Dominican Republic. The highway begins at a T-interchange with DR-1 in Villa Visonó in the small town of Navarrete located about 20 kilometers northwest of Santiago de los Caballeros. Initially... |
-- |
| San Fernando de Monte Cristi San Fernando de Monte Cristi San Fernando de Monte Cristi is the capital of Monte Cristi Province, Dominican Republic.It is located in the northwest of the country in the coastal lowlands, close to the border with Haiti.- History :... |
DR-Route 45 | 270 km, ends here |