Ascención said that the asphalt that was damaged on Isabel Aguiar will be restored, and then the road will be paved in better condition than it was before.
SANTO DOMINGO.– Brigades and heavy equipment from the Ministry of Public Works and Communications (MOPC) began work this Tuesday to recover a large section of Isabel Aguiar Avenue, which was seriously damaged by the intense rains caused by the tropical disturbance last Saturday.
The Minister of Public Works and Communications, Deligne Ascención, was present at the start of the work, also visiting different sites in the municipality of Santo Domingo Oeste that were affected by the tropical disturbance last Saturday, where he explained that his presence in the area was to carry out a survey, supervise the work and bring solutions that the Government has begun to provide in different aspects.
Ascención said that the asphalt that was damaged on Isabel Aguiar will be restored, and then the road will be paved in better condition than it was before.
“We are seeing the intervention that the MOPC has been carrying out for about two days now at this point in the municipality of Santo Domingo Oeste that was impacted, where large currents of water lifted the pavement, sedimenting the entire street, both central and surrounding streets,” he said.
He said that from the initial moment, the MOPC, together with the Santo Domingo Oeste city council, participated in an initial effort, which consisted of clearing the debris to enable traffic and then proceeding with a larger intervention.
In this regard, he explained that this intervention consists of milling the pavement, rehabilitating the sidewalks and curbs that were affected and building new ones, according to a press document from the Communications and Press Directorate of that ministry.
“Also, cleaning the storm drainage system together with the City Council and the Santo Domingo Water and Sewerage Corporation (CAASD), which is within their jurisdiction, to coordinate action to find a definitive solution to the drainage system that should exist on this road, which could evidently have been one of the causes,” he explained.
The mayor of Santo Domingo Oeste, José Andújar, who accompanied the minister, explained that since the waters began to recede, he and the Ministry of Public Works have been working on cleaning the streets, and the Kilometer 12 sector of Haina has always been fighting for drainage because this area floods as soon as it rains.
“Thank God, together with CASD and MOPC, this situation will be resolved. In a few days, this will be paved. Luckily, the base is good, and it will only be a matter of laying a new layer. This will be quick to open, but the drainage will take some time,” he said.
During his tour, the Minister of Public Works also visited the bridge over the Guzmán stream in Manoguayabo, and the landslide that occurred on Ricardo Barceló Avenue in Villa Duarte, which led to the closure of that section to traffic.
Five people lost their lives on Saturday in the Guzmán stream due to flooding caused by torrential rains.
Ascención was accompanied by the mayor of Santo Domingo Oeste, José Andújar; the director of Road Paving, Joan Manuel Sabino; the director of Equipment and Transportation, Élido Alcántara; the director of Social Programs of the MOPC, Yasmina Veras, and the former mayor of SDO, Francisco Peña, among others.
Other visits
During a visit to the SDO Fire Department headquarters, where he met with government Social Plan officials, Ascención explained that in response to the problems that arose on Saturday, the government is providing a response that will be increased in collaboration with local authorities in this municipality.
“With this leadership that those present here represent, we must and will work to bring immediate peace of mind to the people who live there in the medium and long term, and to build solutions that can have a definitive character,” he declared.
He added that President Abinader's administration is a humane government that assumes its responsibility of solidarity and is ready to make every effort to support Dominican families.
Ascención took the opportunity to offer condolences to the families of the people from the municipality of Santo Domingo Oeste who died in the atmospheric event.
“Santo Domingo Oeste and the country can rest assured that its authorities will be supporting them and developing the solutions they need to problems that will last for a while, because there are many, since there was an accumulation of situations, but we are responding in a timely manner.”.
Gloria Reyes, director of the Social Plan of the Presidency, indicated that President Abinader's government is providing support to the authorities of Santo Domingo Oeste (SDO), as well as emergency committees, giving assistance to the affected family.
“At the infrastructure level, we have two points that have been among the most affected, which have to do with the Arroyo Bonito ravine in Manoguayabo and Kilometer 12, where work is being done and the survey is being carried out,” he commented.
