SANTO DOMINGO.- The National Institute of Land Transportation (Intrant) will implement a contraflow lane at the 27 de Febrero Avenue overpass with Máximo Gómez (south side) starting at 6:00 a.m. this Wednesday to ease traffic congestion, which has been severe since the east-west traffic was closed due to the collapse of the side wall, which left 9 people dead last Saturday, November 18.
Intrant stated, through its account on the social network X, formerly Twitter, that the contraflow will allow drivers coming from east-west to "join further ahead, into the express lanes of 27 de Febrero Avenue in the same east-west direction.".
Yesterday, Tuesday, a major traffic jam occurred in the vicinity of Máximo Gómez and 27 de Febrero avenues, caused by the closure of the underpass following the collapse of one of its walls on Saturday afternoon. Only two eastbound lanes of 27 de Febrero Avenue, near the affected area, were open to traffic.
Due to the temporary closure of the intersection of 27 de Febrero and Avenida Máximo Gómez, authorities defined a series of alternate routes to facilitate the flow of traffic at the busy point in the capital, although it has not been enough.
Several sections affected
The tropical disturbance last Saturday caused some streets, such as Isabel Aguiar Avenue, to become impassable. The Ministry of Public Works announced yesterday that it has begun repairs on a large section of this avenue, one of the main thoroughfares connecting to Santo Domingo West.
There was also a collapse on Avenida España, near the floating bridge. Additionally, yesterday a crew from the Santo Domingo Water and Sewerage Corporation (CAASD) was working on a sinkhole that opened up at the intersection of Dr. Delgado and México avenues, near the National Palace.
Street suggestions
Authorities recommend that citizens use the following routes for east-west travel: Padre Castellanos Avenue, George Washington Avenue, Mexico Avenue, and Mella and Bolívar Streets. For west-east travel, they suggest using John F. Kennedy Avenue, V Centenario Avenue, Pedro Henríquez Ureña Avenue, Mexico Avenue, Independencia Avenue, and George Washington Avenue.
Vehicles entering the National District from Santo Domingo East have access to the contraflow lane located on the floating bridge over the Ozama River during the period from 6:00 to 9:00 in the morning.
Cover photo: Sinkhole at Dr. Delgado and Mexico (taken from Listín Diario).
