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Photos
by Samana Net
| New Construction
Pre-construction site preparation on the adjacent business section across the Malecon road from the harbor has progressed with the recent demolition of the old buildings (including the well-known William's Restaurant) in the open-air mall area by the easternmost traffic circle.
Retention ponds have been constructed to deal with sediment and runoff from the small stream that flows through the area and passes under the Malecon to empty into the harbor. Some quayside dredging remains to be accomplished.
The new government has repeatedly declared its intention to forge ahead with this revitalization project despite national monetary problems. This recent completion of the early phases of this ambitious undertaking and now this just-started, new construction seems to substantiate this intention.
Previous, August 2000 and October 2000 Reports on this subject
Eastern Peninsula Highways and Roads
 
Photo by Samana Net
| Work was started last year on repaving the section of the Malecon road/Las Galeras highway that turns away from the harbor and winds up the mountain before turning right and continuing to the tip of the peninsula and Las Galeras. However, after the road was completely torn up with all the old asphalt removed and the road partially prepared for a new surface, work was stopped and has not progressed since.
Other sections of the Las Galeras highway were also stripped of asphalt and little work has progressed since the beginning of the year. After five months of vehicular traffic enduring these hazardous conditions, temporary patches have been recently applied to the larger potholes and worst sections of the highway.
Previous, August 2000 and October 2000 Reports on this subject
 
Photos
by Samana Net
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Port of Arroyo Barril
May 2001:Although the port facilities seem to continue to be in operation for marine shipping interests, the cruise ship reception area and Immigration building on the big pier remains unfinished and unused by the big liners. Rumor has it that these big boats will not venture this far into the bay until the channel is re-marked and buoyed with channel markers.
Several cruise ships that called on Samana this year continued to anchor in Samana Bay just west of Cayo Levantado for their overnight stopovers. Visitors were ferried from the ships to the Cayo and into Samana's harbor by small boats.
Previous, August 2000 and October 2000 Reports on this subject
Mega Resort - Playa Rincon
May 2001:Still no activity or progress has been reported on this project although much of the area west of the adjacent Cabo Cabron has been added to the existing Cabo Cabron National Park. As a result, park area land-use classifications are under revision. Attempts have been made from within the new, PRD government to allow major development of this ecologically sensitive land area within and adjacent to much of the new park boundaries. Other governmental factions strongly oppose major development here and within some of the Dominican Republic's other national parks as proposed by the government.
All work on the Rincon Road between the main highway and the village of Rincon has stopped. However, after the tiny village some improvements to the road are still progressing. The road from the village down to Playa Rincon has not been improved and is still in poor condition. |
Previous, August 2000 and October 2000 Reports on this subject
Samana-El Limon-
Las Terrenas Road
May 2001:
- Much paving of this road has been completed with only the sections from El Limon to Las Terrenas and the El Portillo cutoff that passes by the airstrip and continues along the beach to Las Terrenas remaining to be finished. The completed section from Samana to El Limon has added road striping and traffic signs, a real improvement to this now, easily drivable road.
Although considered to be the most scenic road on the peninsula, the mountainous Sanchez to Las Terrenas highway is heavily traveled and continues to deteriorate. Despite spectacular views that vie for driver attention, it remains a trecherous route that requires careful navigation.
Previous, August 2000 and October 2000 Reports on this subject
Las Galeras
Photos by Samana Net | May 2001:Much private construction on homes and tourist accommodations continues. POLITUR, the police and tourist safety arm of the Ministry of Tourism, has added regular patrols and a National Police presence has been established at the Marina de Guerre station with the police occupying an existing building on the site.
No progress has been made on the municipal water system and despite this, the national agency that controls potable, fresh water use, INAPA, has stepped up enforcement efforts in Las Galeras regarding collection of monthly permit fees for private wells by closing any well whose owner fails to pay these fees. It should be noted that although most ground water under the Las Galeras area is non-potable, contaminated with salt and usable only for showers and toilets, the potable, well-water regulations still apply. Potable water for drinking and cooking is provided free to many area Dominicans by INAPA, but for other users, must be obtained at a cost from private sources.
Previous, August 2000 and October 2000 Reports on this subject
 
Photos by Samana Net
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Las Terrenas
May 2001:
- Despite an off-year for tourism, construction of both commercial, residential and tourism-related projects continues to go forward as the area continues to grow. Among these are oceanfront apartments, a large, all-inclusive hotel west of Playa Coson, a two-story boutique/offices mall on the main street just off the beach and various residential area properties.
Tour operators in both the United States and Canada are now demonstrating a heightened interest in the local area and this is expected to have an impact in augmenting the sagging European travel market.
The eastern section of the oceanfront-beach road has been widened, filled and graded in anticipation of paving. And despite temporary improvements (largely dirt filling), the western section (from the center of town) continues to present vehicular challenges with potholes, large dips and mudpuddles still in abundance. Along both sections it is not uncommon to see local hoteliers watering the road in front of their hotels with a garden hose in an attempt to control dust arising from the sandy road conditions.
Previous, August 2000 and October 2000 Reports on this subject
| News and information on Samana.Net is compiled by Andy Brachhold, co-creator of Samana.Net, former educator and journalist and resident of Las Galeras where he and his wife, Nicole, own a small hotel and restaurant. Traveling around the peninsula on a regular basis, Andy is able to report on the latest developments; unbiased and to the point. Involved in tourist growth and development for the province, Andy has the inside scoop on what is ticking in Samana.
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