Route Nationale #1 - Haiti Observer Blog

Take a look of the collapsed Bridge On Route 9 over Riviere Grise. This bridge that collapsed few months ago has not been fixed. It joins one of the most frequented roads in Haiti. Because of it importance in transportation, many cars and trucks have taken their chances by crossing the river. Also there is also an opportunity in any situation. Some local people are now charging a fee to transport people over their back from one side of riviere Grise to the other. Onced more this demonstrates the tolerance of the Haitian people and the indifference of their authorities.

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What would you say if I tell you there is a plan to make "Route Nationale #1" safer, more efficient and overall better. While we are fighting among ourselves, the multi-year plan to make Haiti an emerging country is moving ahead.

In the objective to improve economic development in Haiti, an investment of $50 million is being made by the Inter-American Development Bank to improve road transportation between Port-au-Prince and Cap-Haitien which are the biggest cities in Haiti.

By the time this project is over, the road from Port-au-Prince to Cap-Haitian will be equipped with guardrails, speed bumps and road signs. The road will also have widening shoulders.

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The commune of Delmas in the Ouest Department is known as the "extension" of the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince. Covering 80 square kilometers of land, Delmas is part of the capital's expansion and is now housing some 400,000 residents.

The best thing about Delmas is its road construction. Unlike other towns and cities in Haiti, Delmas features an efficient and useable road networks. Its road network provides links to the major highway of Route National No. 1. It also makes it easier for motorists to travel to the Toussaint Louvre International Airport in Port-au-Prince, providing simple access to air travel.

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Haiti has been included in the list of kidnapping capitals in the world. Even if the country has recorded a decline in its kidnapping cases in the past, the number remains very high. Kidnappers in Haiti do not select victims based on their gender, age, nationality or race. As long as they have the opportunity to snatch someone, they will.

There are areas in Haiti that one must avoid due to security and safety concerns. Port-au-Prince, the country's capital, has a high crime rate. Slum areas in the capital, including Cite Soleil, Carrefour, Martissant, and the Delmas road area are hot spots for criminals. The same goes for urban route Nationale #1, the Boulevard Toussaint L'Ouverture and the American Road. Even public transportations are not safe because criminals, including kidnappers, can attack people in these areas.

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