2.3 Dominican Republic Road Network

2.3 Dominican Republic Road Network

Main Roads or Highways

  • Autopista Duarte
  • Carretera Sánchez
  • Autopista 6 de Noviembre
  • Autopista de Samana
  • Auto Pista las Américas
  • Auto Vía del Este
  • Carretera Sánchez
  • Auto Pista del Coral
  • Boulevard Turístico del Atlántico
  • Carretera San Cristobal-Bani-Azua

Composition of the Highway Network of the Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic has eight main roads:

  • DR-1 connects Santo Domingo with the Cibao region, through the second most populous city Santiago de los Caballeros and ends at the Dominican-Haitian north-Haitian border near Monte Cristi.
  • Dr-2 gives Santo Domingo a direct link to the medium-sized cities located in the southwestern region of the country and a second connection to Haiti through the southern border.
  • Dr-3 provides Santo Domingo with a direct connection to the important eastern cities and ends in Punta Cana.

The other numbered highways either provide alternative routes (DR-8, DR-4, DR-6), or function as an auxiliary route (DR-5) from the main routes to connect smaller cities to the main highway network.


  • Regional highways or secondary system: Locally called “highways”, they satisfy the traffic demands between cities or centers not served by the less active backbone or primary system.
  • Local roads or tertiary system: they are generally small extensions mainly intended to give access to the interesting traffic that serves as a link between small cities or towns with a secondary system. 
  • Local roads: provide access to agricultural production area and towns inaccessible to motor vehicles. They do not have numbered codes and have reduced traffic (20-500 vehicles per day).
  • Neighborhood Roads Network: Roads that provide access mainly to agricultural production areas and hard-to-reach towns.


The Ministry of Public Works and Communications (MOPC) is in charge of providing and maintaining the road network in good condition that allows the transportation of agricultural products as quickly as possible to the centers of commercialization, distribution and consumption.

For more information on government contact details, see the following link: 4.1 Government Contact List.

Distance Matrix

Distances from the Capital City to Major Cities

 

Santo Domingo

Santiago

Puerto Plata

Monte Cristi

Dajabón

Elías Piña

Barahona

Jimaní

Santo Domingo


155 km

207 km

253 km

306 km

254 km

200 km

354 km

Santiago

155 km


63 km

109 km

146 km

376 km

409 km

498 km

Puerto Plata

207 km

63 km


174 km

209 km

439 km

472 km

561 km

Monte Cristi

253 km

109 km

174 km


35 km

485 km

518 km

607 km

Dajabón

306 km

146 km

209 km

35 km


538 km

571 km

660 km

Elias Piña

232 km

376 km

439 km

485 km

538 km


172 km

261 km

Barahona

265 km

409 km

472 km

518 km

571 km

172 km


89 km

Jimaní

354 km

498 km

561 km

607 km

660 km

261 km

89 km


Travel time from the capital city to the main cities (hours)

 

Santo Domingo

Santiago

Puerto Plata

Monte Cristi

Dajabón

Elías Piña

Barahona

Jimaní

Santo Domingo


1:45:00

2:47:00

3:37:00

4:39:00

3:25:00

2:22:00

3:38:00

Santiago

1:45:00


1:30:00

1:45:00

2:15:00

5:12:00

3:39:00

4:55:00

Puerto Plata

2:47:00

1:30:00


2:04:00

3:24:00

5:42:00

4:09:00

5:25:00

Monte Cristi

3:37:00

1:45:00

2:04:00


1:20:00

6:02:00

4:59:00

6:15:00

Dajabón

4:39:00

2:15:00

3:24:00

1:20:00


7:04:00

6:01:00

7:17:00

Elias Piña

3:25:00

5:12:00

5:42:00

6:02:00

7:04:00


2:25:00

3:41:00

Barahona

2:22:00

3:39:00

4:09:00

4:59:00

6:01:00

2:25:00


1:16:00

Jimaní

3:38:00

4:55:00

5:25:00

6:15:00

7:17:00

3:41:00

1:16:00


 

Road Safety

Dirección General de Seguridad de Tránsito y Transporte Terrestre | DIGESETT

Ave. Expreso V Centenario esq. San Martín, Santo Domingo, R.D

Tel.: (809) 686-6520 Fax: (809) 686-7017

info@digesett.gob.do 

For road assistance

Schedule: Open 24 hours 

Telephone: (829) 688-1000

Weighing bridges and axle load limits

Axle load limits

Dominican Republic

HAITI

2 axle truck

14,500

> 30.000

3 axle truck

19,500

> to:  30.000

4 axle truck

-

> to:  30.000

Semi-trailer with 3 axles

27,250

> to:  30.000

Semi-trailer with 4 axles

27,250

> to:  30.000

Semi-trailer with 5 axles

30,100

> to:  30.000

Semi-trailer with 6 axles

-

> to:  30.000

Trailer truck & Drawbar with 4 axles

30,000

> to:  30.000

Trailer truck & Drawbar with 5 axles

32,100

> to:  30.000

Trailer truck & Drawbar with 6 axles

32,100

> to:  30.000

Trailer truck & Drawbar with 7 axles

32,100

> to:  30.000

Rates at public and private toll stations

Source: http://rdvial.gob.do/peajes/

Toll Stations Rates
Category 1
Vehicles with 2 axles
Category 2
Vehicles with 2 axles plus two wheels
Category 3
Vehicles with 3 and 4 axles
Category 4
Vehicles with 5 and 6 axles
Category 5
Vehicles with 7 axles or more
6 de Noviembre RD$ 60.00 RD$ 120.00 RD$ 180.00 RD$ 240.00 RD$ 300.00

Circunvalación Juan Bosch 1

RD$ 100.00 RD$ 200.00 RD$ 300.00 RD$ 400.00 RD$ 600.00

Circunvalación Juan Bosch 2

RD$ 100.00 RD$ 200.00 RD$ 300.00 RD$ 400.00 RD$ 600.00
Circunvalación Santiago RD$ 100.00 RD$ 200.00 RD$ 300.00 RD$ 400.00 RD$ 600.00
Coral 1 RD$ 60.00 RD$ 120.00 RD$ 180.00 RD$ 240.00 RD$ 300.00
Coral 2 RD$ 100.00 RD$ 200.00 RD$ 300.00 RD$ 400.00 RD$ 600.00
Duarte RD$ 60.00 RD$ 120.00 RD$ 180.00 RD$ 240.00 RD$ 300.00
La Romana RD$ 100.00 RD$ 200.00 RD$ 300.00 RD$ 400.00 RD$ 600.00
Las Américas RD$ 60.00 RD$ 120.00 RD$ 180.00 RD$ 240.00 RD$ 300.00

Sánchez

RD$ 60.00 RD$ 120.00 RD$ 180.00 RD$ 240.00 RD$ 300.00


 

2.3.1 Dominican Republic Land Border Crossing of Jimani

Overview 

The main border crossing point between the Dominican Republic and Haiti is the Jimaní - Malpasse crossing. It is the closest point to the Haitian capital Port-au-Prince, making it one of the two most significant trade points within the island.

 

Location and border crossing contact

Border crossing name

 

Dominican Republic: Jimani

Haiti: Malpasse

Province or District

Independencia

Nearest city or town from border crossing (with distance)

Barahona (84.4 km)

Latitude

18.489367

Longitude

-71.879678

Managing Authority / Agency


Contact

Miguel Jimenez, 1 (809) 875-3022

 

Travel time

Closest international airport

Las Américas International Airport (SDQ)

Distance in km: 287

Truck travel time: Approximately 6 hours

Car travel time: 4 hours 30 minutes

Closest port

Barahona

Distance in km: 92

Truck travel time: 2 hours

Car travel time: 1 hour and 30 minutes

Closest location with functioning wholesale markets, or significant manufacturing or production capacity

Barahona

Distance in km: 92

Truck travel time: 2 hours

Car travel time: 1 hour and 30 minutes

Other information

N/A

Operating hours

Monday

From 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Tuesday

From 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Wednesday

From 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Thursday

From 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Friday

From 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Saturday

From 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Sunday

From 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

National holidays

It operates every day, including national holidays

Seasonal restrictions

Crossing affected due to the binational market

Daily capacity

At this border crossing there are no restrictions for private vehicles and there is no work service for traffic entering or leaving the country.

Customs

For imports, submit a single Customs Declaration (DUA) declaring import and export. The DUA must be accompanied by the commercial invoice, the transport documents (shipping invoice if the goods are transported by ship or airship if it is by plane) and a certificate of origin for preferential imports. Furthermore, depending on the product in question, it must be included import permit or authorization, phytosanitary and zoo sanitary certificates. The import of some products is delimited by import licenses in order to protect public safety, the environment, flora, fauna and public health. In the case of products and by-products, for permits of plant and animal origin or "authorizations" for importation, such documents are issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and must be accompanied by a plant or animal "Guide without objections," depending on the product. 

Relevant information:

The cargo documentation must include original copies of the following documents:

  1. Packing list
  2. Bill of Lading / Airway Bill
  3. Load certificate
  4. Value or invoice statement
  5. Donation certificate (if applicable)
  6. Certificate of origin (if any - necessary for food products)
  7. Phytosanitary certificate (if any - necessary for food products)

Although the original documents are released once the cargo has arrived, the copies can still be used for the customs clearance process.

For more information on government contact details, see the following link: 4.1 Government Contact List.

Cross-border Pass / Crossing

Authorization to cross the Dominican-Haitian border for motor vehicles

CARE UNIT: Haiti Relations Office.

PROCEDURE TO OBTAIN THE SERVICE: Request letter addressed to the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

SERVICE DELIVERY CHANNELS: Telephone, email and in person.

TO WHOM IT IS ADDRESSED: National and Foreign Citizens.

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE APPLICATION:

  • Application form with three (3) copies addressed to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, requesting the authorization of the vehicle to cross the border. Specifying:
  • Reason for the trip and type of entry (single, multiple).
  • Type of vehicle (car, jeep, cargo, etc.).
  • Vehicle chassis number.
  • Owner's name.
  • Driver's name and passport number.
  • Border point where you will make the trip: Dajabón / Jimaní / Elías Piña / Pedernales.
  • This application must be accompanied by the following documents, presented in three sets:
  • Certification from the Department of Investigation of Stolen Vehicles of the National Police (Departamento de Investigación de Vehículos Robados de la Policía Nacional).
  • Copy of the vehicle registration. If the registration is not in the name of the applicant, deposit a copy of the vehicle purchase contract or certification of the owner authorizing the vehicle to leave the country.
  • Copy of the applicant's identity document.
  • Copy of the vehicle insurance label.
  • Copy of the driver's license, copy of the passport and copy of the vehicle driver's visa (If you have an American or Schengen visa, you do not need a Haitian visa).
  • Two 2 x 2 photos of the driver.

SERVICE COST: Free

RESPONSE TIME: 24 to 72 hours

Source:  https://www.mirex.gob.do/servicios/permiso-transfronterizo

CONTACTS

Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores de la República Dominicana

Avenida Independencia No. 752, Estancia San Gerónimo, Santo Domingo, R. D.

Tel.: (809) 987-7001 / (809) 535-6280 | Email: relexteriores@mirex.gob.do

Working hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM

Requirements to travel to Haiti

  • Passport with a minimum validity of six months is recommended.
  • Round trip airline tickets.
  • A passport size photo.
  • An application form, which must be delivered to the Consulate by the person himself. In some cases and countries, this can be delivered by mail, accompanied by a self-addressed envelope and stamp.

Some people (depending on the country of origin) must process a visa. This visa can be processed before or upon arrival in Haiti but having previously been requested at the Consulate. Visas can be single and multiple (from three to six months), and their cost is approximately US$ 25.

Visa requirements

  • Two copies of the application form.
  • Two passport size photographs.
  • Photocopy of the biographical page of the passport.
  • Labour letter.
  • Bank proof of financial solvency.
  • Airline ticket(s) and hotel reservation.

Upon arrival in the country, the identity and purpose of entering the country must be explained to the immigration agents, as well as proof that they have sufficient funds to stay in the country.


Haitian Embassy in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

ADDRESS: 33 Juan Sanchez Ramirez Avenue, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

TELEPHONE: +1 809-686-7115, Ext. 221

E-MAIL: amb.saintdomingue@diplomatie.ht

WEBSITE: ambassadehaitird.gouv.ht

WORKING HOURS: Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM

HEAD OF THE MISSION: Miousemine Célestin Myrtil

CONSULAR SERVICES: No information available

Vehicle Border Crossing Request to the Republic of Haiti - DGA General Directorate of Customs

Document the departure of the vehicle from the Dominican Republic to the Republic of Haiti and that said vehicle will re-enter the Dominican Republic again.

Requirements:

  1. Official letter from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
  2. Receipt of payment for the service cost: RD $ 100.00.
  3. Driver and companion’s passport copy.
  4. Certification from the Department of Investigation of Stolen Vehicles of the National Police (valid).
  5. Copy of the registration of the motor vehicle.
  6. Copy of the motor vehicle insurance label.

Service cost is RD$100.00. The interested party deposits the required documents in the Correspondence and File Area of the General Customs Directorate Headquarters. Delivery time is 2 business days. This information is also available from the Government Contact Center (GCC). If you want to speak to an agent, you can call for free from anywhere in the country and from any telephone company by simply dialing * 462 (* GOB) from Monday to Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Source:  http://www.servicios.dominicana.gob.do/servicio.php?id=1824


PORTAL DE GOBIERNO ELECTRÓNICO DE LA REPÚBLICA DOMINICANA
AVENIDA 27 DE FEBRERO #419 CASI ESQ. NÚÑEZ DE CÁCERES, ENS. QUISQUEYA, SANTO DOMINGO, R.D.
TEL: (809) 286-1009 | FAX: (809) 508-3691


2.3.2 Dominican Republic Land Border Crossing of Dajabon

Overview 

The Dajabon - Ounaminthe Border Crossing is one of the four land crossing points with significance for trade within the island. 


Border Crossing Location and Contact 

Name of Border Crossing 


Dominican Republic: Dajabon 

Haiti: Ounaminthe 

Province or District 

Dajabon

Nearest Town or City with Distance from Border Crossing 

Monte Cristi (55.9 km) 

Latitude 

19.550805

Longitude 

-71.711895

Managing Authority / Agency 


Contact Person 

Elias Pina, director de la douana, M. Julio Alejo. Tel : 809 224 93 87.

Travel Times 

Nearest International Airport 

Aeropuerto Internacional Del Cibao

Distance in km: 161 km

Truck Travel Time: Approx. 4 hours 

Car Travel time: 3 hrs 

Nearest Port 

Manzanillo – Pepillo Salcedo 

Distance in km: 43 km

Truck Travel Time:  1 hr 30 min 

Car Travel time: 1 hr  

Nearest location with functioning wholesale markets, or with significant manufacturing or production capacity 

Santiago

Distance in km: 144 km

Truck Travel Time:  3 hr 40 min 

Car Travel time: 3 hrs  

Hours of Operation

Mondays 

From 8:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. 

Tuesdays 

From 8:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. 

Wednesdays 

From 8:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. 

Thursdays 

From 8:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. 

Fridays 

From 8:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. 

Saturdays 

From 8:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. 

Sundays 

From 8:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. 

National Holidays  

Operates daily including National Holidays 

Seasonal Constraints  

Crossing affected due to the Binational Market Place 

Daily Capacity 

In this border crossing there are no restrictions for private vehicles and do not provide a separate lane for traffic entering or leaving the country. 

COVID-19 Border Measures

After the state of emergency was established in the Dominican territory, the border remains closed for the transit of people. For the commercial exchange, precautionary measures have been taken that include the opening of the border for this type of activity from 10:00 a.m. at 11:00 a.m., and from 4:00 p.m. at 5:00 P.M. from Monday to Friday.

Customs Clearance 

To make imports required to submit a declaration to the customs a Single Customs Declaration (DUA) where they declare the import and export necessary. The DUA must be accompanied by the commercial invoice, transport documents (bill of lading if the goods are transported by ship or air waybill if it is by plane), and a certificate of origin for preferential imports. Additionally, depending on the product concerned, permit or import authorization, phytosanitary and animal health certificates corresponding to occur. The import of some products is regulated by import licenses in order to protect public safety, environment, flora, fauna and public health. In the case of the products and by-products of plant and animal origin permits or "authorizations" import are issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and must be accompanied by a "guide no objection" Plant or Animal Health, as appropriate. 

The cargo documentation must necessarily include original copies of the following documents: 

  1. Packing List
  2. Bill of Lading / Airway Bill
  3. Certificate freight
  4. Statement of Value or invoice
  5. Certificate of donation (if applicable)
  6. Certificate of Origin (if any - needed for food products)
  7. Phytosanitary certificate (if any - needed for food products)

Although the original copies of these documents are necessary once the cargo has arrived, copies can be used to advance the process of customs clearance.

For more information on customs in Dominican Republic, please see the following link: 1.3 Dominican Republic Customs Information

For more information on government contact details, please see the following link: 4.1 Dominican Republic Government Contact List