Sugar cane road detour

[Dolores]

Because of damage to a connecting bridge that was affected by rains this month, traffic is now being detoured to Nisibon-Higuey and to the sugar cane fields-Boca de Yuma detour.

The sugar cane fields route actually cuts traffic time considerably, could be up to an hour, considering the bottlenecks into Higuey from La Otra Banda. But it can be a tricky route to take. If taking it, tag on to another vehicle and stay close so you know where to zig zag on the train tracks to get to the stretch of road that continues onto Punta Cana. I would say avoid this road after 6:30pm, although if there is sufficient traffic you could tag closely behind and not get lost. Also, this road has many mud and rocks stretches, so is for a rugged vehicle. A rugged car could do it, though.

The sugar cane detour is the road to take to head to Boca de Yuma-La Romana-Santo Domingo. If you are headed to Higuey, take the turn to the right on to Nisibon.

[Hillbilly]

Thank you. I knew that the highway Punta Cana-Higüey w as closed for repairs and that the taxis are going up to Uvero Alto to get to Higüey....

NOW, just where is the turn off going from La Romana to Punta Cana????

HB

[Matilda]

I always take that road. it saves an hour on the journey to PC from Juan Dolio. You go past the airport in La Romana. over the river - that big dip - then just after the trun off to Bayahibe there is a level crossing. Turn right at the level crossing. Go straight through the cane for about 15 miles then turn left through a little barrio - then immediatley right and theat will take you to the main road. Don't turn left too early, it is practically at the end of the road - you will see the barrio on the left and lots of kids. Cross over the railway and there you are and then turn right.

[Hillbilly]

You mean the railway crossing? Does the Batey have a name? Might help us uplanders that do not know the area.

HB

[PJT]

Originally Posted by Hillbilly

You mean the railway crossing? Does the Batey have a name? Might help us uplanders that do not know the area.

HB

HB, I don't remember the batey names and they are not posted.

Here is some info as I recall. Just after the Yuma crossroad at the road destined to Higuey there is a Central Romana RR crossing in the area of the local comado roadstop on the right. You take the immediate right onto the gravel/dirt road after the RR crossing. You basically follow the RR tracks on the right that parrallel the road. At one point the road crosses over the tracks and then the rails are on your left. You continue on the road parrallel to the rails on the left. At one point a rail spur line breaks from the main line to the right, you will cross over the spur continuing to follow the main on the left. There are, if I remember correctly, 4 bateys you will pass. At the third batey, there is a storage area on the right for the sugar cane wagons and other rolling equipment, immediately after that take the left turn at the RR crossing bringing you through the batey - then there is an immediate right that will parallel the main line that is now to your right. This stretch of road will bring you to the intersection of the paved road connecting La Otra Banda to Punta Cana. You will turn right there. If I remember correctly this detour through the cane is about 14 miles of distance, from Yuma crossing to La Otra Banda. Please note: If there has been recent rain the road may not be passable as it muddies up real quick, impossible for a 2x4 to manuever and tough for a 4x4.

Regards,
PJT

[Hillbilly]

Great and very clear information. Much appreciated.
Now-drag, click copy and print!!

Thanks!!

HB *4x4* all greased and ready..

[Dolores]

The best way to go is to tag behind someone who has it memorized.

You need to zig zag over three rails for the first part (in the direction of Boca de Yuma crossing to Punta Cana). Once you pass the sugar cane loading point EC 450 you know you are on the right track, from there it is straight driving until you get to where the road can go no further, and then you turn left into the batey, and then the first right and continue straight until getting to the main highway.

May I emphasize that the best way is to tag onto some vehicle that seems to know where headed by the security shown by the driver (he is going fast). If you reach a point where there are two options, wait for a vehicle to show you the way to go. Otherwise, it is easy to get lost.

Would not take this road after 6:30pm.

Is 20 kms, as said above. It means you avoid the bottlenecks of Higuey and La Otra Banda.

Difficult driving for cars because at the end you go through mud.

Slow driving because there is much more traffic -- or at least over last weekend.

[KateP]

Wouldn't recommend it either if it's raining or just finished raining!

[Hillbilly]

Good morning people.

After all the good advice given on this board about traveling to Punta Cana and that area, I talked to my friend in La Romana and they agreed that a drive Santiago-PJU-Santiago was a bit too much in one day. Shoot, I could drive from NYC to Indianapolis in that time!!

So, I got to La Romana las night, watched the Toros beat the Escogido Leones in a nice game, and sacked out.

Up a dawn, we had coffee and good talk, and planned the weekend, cause he and his family will head up to Santiago for a " comelonga" at our place, previous to the golf tournament on Sunday. An impressive number of people will be coming for the tournament and we had to turn away some good folks.

Anyway, to the point.

Following rubio_higuey's and Dolores' posts, which I sopied and saved and printed out (but forgot to bring) I followed the broad outlines:

At the RR crossing (there is a colmado/parada right at the corner) you take a right and follow your nose. The road crossed the RR tracks three times at least. I found one of Dolores' guidline very helpful. She said look for EC 450, this is an "Estacion de CA~na" (stupid keyboard!!) on your left.

NOW FOR MY NEW AID TO TRAVELERS:
Follow the cane loading station up to EC-457. THEN, the road almost ends, although you can see another one in the distance, and you really HAVE to turn left across the tracks. One fairly short bloc and you go right again, all the way to the highway to PC> Turn right for Punta CAna, Left for Otra BAnda.

Now, I came in a medium sized Toyota SUV, worried about the hazards of the road: NOT!!

If you do not drive a low-slung sports car, you can travel this road. Central Romana has a grader working on leveling the roadway, I suppose because they know that the bridge is out and the road will be getting heavy use these days.
You will not want to sue the gas pedal too much. The road is uneven, and towards the end there are some muc puddles, but nothing AZB'x Toyota Corolla souldn't handle....

There are NO secret turns or anything else. The first crossing of the railroad might be the most tricky, but you just want to be on the other side of the tracks from the cane loader (EC-449)...

From the Hillbilly esconsed on La Marina at Cap CAna....

HB

[Dolores]

Thanks to Hillbilly for adding to these instructions on how to take the sugar cane route.

Did the route on Tuesday, was driving and by myself so concentrated. I noticed there is actually a sign where one needs to cross the tracks for a second time. Actually there are three signs -- two with small circles indicating there is a crossing, and another one with a large X in yellow indicating Cruce in words.

Next time that way will make a photo of the key points. That cruce, where the sign is subtly disguided inside the cane field but to the south of the driver, is the most tricky point, where you have to cross over the tracks for the second time. Now that I can look for the sign, will not get lost anymore. On the road back, the cross overs are more logical.

I would not attempt this road in anything less than a SUV. A big cargo truck got stuck in the mud when I was returning on Wednesday. Towards the easternmost point of the road it gets muddy, depending on if it rained and how much. But I am talking about the cargo truck getting stuck, so any car going into that hole, would also need to be towed out. Try to take the sides of the mud spots, avoid going through the middle of the road.

On Wednesday there was no traffic, on Tuesday it was light and I noticed the sign of the bridge problem had been removed, so apparently traffic has been restored through Otra Banda.

But I will continue to go the cane field route and now that we are assembling such good instructions, probably more dr1s can attempt it too. If you do not feel sure of yourself, or if it is your first time at it, still recommend tallying someone else.

Next time will make sure to take photos of the two rail point crossings and where the turns need to be taken so people can have points to visually recognize.

Ahh... Hillbilly deserves to be pampered at Cap Cana.