The Dominican Republic has officially awarded the design and construction contract for the Amber Highway (Autopista del Ámbar), a flagship infrastructure project valued at RD$28.8 billion (approximately US$476 million). The project is intended to improve transportation between Santiago, the country’s second-largest city, and the northern coastal province of Puerto Plata, reducing travel times by more than 30 minutes.
The contract was awarded by the government-managed RD Vial Trust (Fideicomiso RD Vial) following the completion of National Public Tender FIDEICOMISO-CCC-LPN-2025-0010. According to the official evaluation, the winning bidder, Consorcio Autopista del Ámbar, S.R.L., obtained the highest combined technical and financial score while meeting all requirements established in the tender documents.
A Competitive Procurement Process
The bidding process began in November 2025 in coordination with the Ministry of Public Works and Communications (MOPC) and lasted approximately eight months. Three consortia representing ten Dominican and international companies submitted proposals, making it one of the country’s largest and most competitive road infrastructure tenders in recent years.
Authorities said the procurement process was monitored by a Citizen Oversight Commission established through Presidential Decree 298-26. The commission included civic and business leaders Franklin Báez Brugal, José Radhamés García González and Pedro Silverio, while technical, legal and financial specialists, together with a public notary, supervised the evaluation process.
According to RD Vial, multiple rounds of consultations, observations, amendments and technical reviews were completed before the final award was issued in accordance with Dominican public procurement regulations.
Improving Connectivity Between Santiago and Puerto Plata
The new highway will extend approximately 35 kilometers, linking the Santiago Northern Bypass (Circunvalación Norte) directly with the Puerto Plata–Sosúa highway. Officials say the road will be built under modern international engineering and road safety standards.
The government expects the toll highway to significantly improve access to the tourism destinations of Puerto Plata and Sosúa while strengthening freight transportation between the agricultural and industrial centers of the Cibao Valley and the country’s northern ports. Authorities also anticipate benefits for Santiago’s free-zone industrial parks, manufacturers and agricultural producers by reducing transportation times and logistics costs.
The project, financed through the RD Vial Trust framework, is also expected to generate thousands of construction jobs and create business opportunities for companies involved in engineering, supervision, technology and road safety.
Environmental Concerns Remain
Despite the government’s emphasis on transportation, tourism and economic development, the project continues to face opposition from environmental organizations, community groups and religious leaders concerned about its long-term impact on the Cordillera Septentrional.
Organizations including Unidos Somos Más and FUNDETROP, together with activist priest Father Ramón “Nino” Ramos, argue that the planned route could facilitate future mining activity in the region. Government officials have not cited mining development as one of the objectives of the project.
Opponents note that portions of the proposed route pass through areas such as Pedro García and Yásica, where mineral exploration concessions have reportedly been granted. Environmental advocates contend that the mountainous region contains important cloud forests, biodiversity and water resources that could be affected by large-scale infrastructure and any future extractive activity.
The government has maintained that the highway’s primary purpose is to improve regional mobility, strengthen economic competitiveness and enhance access between the Cibao region and the country’s northern tourism corridor.
Winning Consortium
The successful bidder, Consorcio Autopista del Ámbar, S.R.L., is composed of three Dominican engineering and construction firms:
Ingeniería Estrella, one of the country’s largest civil engineering companies led by businessman Manuel Estrella; Constructora Mar, a firm with extensive experience in commercial and infrastructure projects; and Constructora Magna, which specializes in large-scale road and heavy civil works.