Public Works rehabilitated the structure of Ortega y Gasset Avenue, which had remained closed since its construction
SANTO DOMINGO.– For more than two decades, thousands of people braved the traffic on Ortega y Gasset Avenue daily to reach the Central Hospital of the Armed Forces, the Juan Pablo Duarte Olympic Center, Metro stations and other service centers, while, a few meters above their heads, a pedestrian bridge remained built, but unused.
That scene began to change this Thursday, July 9, when the Ministry of Public Works and Communications (MOPC) reported that it put into operation the structure, built in 2004 and which had never been enabled for pedestrian passage, after carrying out a comprehensive intervention to restore the necessary safety conditions.
The rehabilitation ends a 22-year wait for residents, workers, students, patients and visitors of the area, who during all that time had to cross the avenue between moving vehicles due to the absence of an operational pedestrian infrastructure.
Twenty-two years without fulfilling its function
According to the Ministry, although it was built more than two decades ago, the bridge never entered service. During that time, it remained closed and exposed to the deterioration caused by the passage of time, while citizens continued to complain about the danger of crossing the road at grade.
With a length of 33 meters, the structure connects both sides of the avenue at one of the points with the highest pedestrian traffic in the National District.
A restoration to recover a forgotten work
According to the MOPC, the work included the replacement of deteriorated metal elements, the repair of areas affected by corrosion, structural reinforcement and the complete conditioning of the footbridge to guarantee safe transit.
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