The Ministry of Public Works and Communications (MOPC) announced that it is constructing works in the province of La Altagracia for more than $2.5 billion pesos, some of which have already been completed and others are in an advanced state of construction.
Among the projects being carried out, Public Works cites in a press release the Cruce de la Autovía del Coral-Boca de Chavón road, the streets of the Boca de Chavón community, the Higüey municipal market, the Yauya-La Otra Banda bridge, the La Otra Banda bypass, and the channeling of gabion walls on the banks upstream and downstream of the Duey River, as well as the construction of eight kilometers of the Guanito-Sanate road, among others.
Minister Deligne Ascención conducted a supervisory tour of the various projects, which aim to improve and enhance the lives of residents in the beneficiary communities.
“In Boca de Chavón, where a major project is underway covering approximately 1.3 kilometers of streets, construction of sidewalks and curbs, base, sub-base, and subsequently paving and signage of all these streets, to transform what was a hamlet into a town,” he explained.
He stated that the institution's investment in Boca de Chavón is 188 million pesos. "As you can see along this route, the work is progressing well, and we have already moved on to the stage of working on the base layer, after which we will prime and proceed with the paving.".
He said that the joint work in this province is part of a series of interventions that the MOPC is carrying out by order of President Luis Abinader, and that its purpose is to dignify and impact the lives of Dominicans.
He announced that in the first quarter of 2024, both the 5.4-kilometer Cruce de la Autovía del Coral-Boca de Chavón road and the streets of the Boca de Chavón community will be inaugurated by President Abinader.
Furthermore, the construction of the Higüey municipal market, with an investment of over 240 million pesos, is nearing completion. It will consist of six modules, covering more than 10,000 square meters, and will include a cold storage room, a silverware area, vegetable and fruit sections, six loading bays, outdoor parking, a perimeter fence, and administrative offices.
“The work is progressing at a fairly advanced pace, and what remains here is the electrical work, emptying of floors, and sanitary installations,” said Ascención.
With an investment of more than 50 million pesos, work is underway on the construction of a bridge in the municipal district of La Otra Banda, which connects the areas of Bávaro, Punta Cana, Verón, Uvero Alto, Miches, among other communities.
“We are here in the district of La Otra Banda overseeing the construction of this important bridge on the road that connects to the tourist area of La Altagracia province. Over the next three weeks, we will proceed with the installation of beams, fill, approach slab, and road surface in order to complete this project,” he added.
Minister Ascención supervised the construction work on the La Otra Banda bypass bridge, which connects Higüey and Verón, and which will have an estimated budget of 851 million pesos, with a length of 10 kilometers, in addition to having two lanes in opposite directions.
“We are at the site of the La Otra Banda ring road bridge construction project. There are two contracts: one company will develop the bridge, and the other will be in charge of building the road. Work has begun on clearing and preparing the space and access to develop the work dynamic, which is part of the initial stages of construction,” he said.
During the visit, the official observed the work being carried out on the banks of the Duey River, an area that was heavily impacted by Hurricane Fiona, and where work is being done on a length of 993 meters to place gabion walls.
The river will also be channeled and the area behind the wall will be filled in. "These works will bring safety and peace of mind to the residents along the river," he emphasized.
Ascención also met with community members from Sanate Abajo, where the Guanito-Sanate Abajo road is being built, an 8-kilometer-long road with an investment of 178 million pesos, which connects Las Limas, El Guanito, La Enea, Santana, and other communities.
Other projects being carried out in the province of La Altagracia include a tubular bridge over the Anamuya River for an amount of RD$ 51 million, the Llanada del Cerro road for an amount exceeding RD$ 104 million, the paving of Friusa-Verón for a value of RD$ 150 million, and the Nisibón Lagoons for an amount of RD$ 50 million.
As well as the channeling and construction of gabion walls on the banks of the Duey River, Av. Gastón Fernando Deligne for more than 371 million pesos, the Duey River, on Juan XXIII Avenue for 270 million pesos, the channeling and protection of the Duey River and the ravine of the La Otra Banda ring road for more than 114 million pesos.
Also, the bridge over the Duey River - La Otra Banda exceeds 71 million pesos.
The provincial governor, Martina Pepén Santana, said that the community of Boca de Chavón was isolated, and that it used to take almost two hours to get there, but that thanks to President Abinader and Minister Ascención it now takes about five minutes.
“From the highway, it took us two hours to get here because we had to watch over the vehicles we were driving. I remember it was Mother's Day, and now from the same highway it's only five minutes. The community members are happy, their faces have changed, and their quality of life has improved,” explained Pepén Santana.
Miguel Jiménez, a community member from Boca de Chavón, expressed satisfaction with the construction of sidewalks and curbs, and the repair of the streets, being carried out by the government of President Abinader, since that community had been waiting for more than 50 years for a government to come to their aid.
“This community is older than La Romana, and we have been waiting for this moment all this time, and thank God we finally have it, thanks to the Ministry of Public Works,” Jiménez added.
Emiliano Brito said that happiness has come to the community of Boca de Chavón because that community has seen all the governments come and go and none of them had looked towards them.
“I am happy with this project being carried out in Boca de Chavón. Many governments have come and gone here, and one that has taken notice is President Luis Abinader. Tourism will be brought in here, which wasn't happening because of the poor condition of the road,” Brito said.
Minister Ascención was accompanied by the Vice Minister of Road Paving, Luis Bastardo; the provincial governor, Martina Pepén; and Villijat Tavarez Cedeño, regional director of the East.
