The Minister of Public Works and Communications (MOPC), Deligne Ascención, highlighted the progress of construction work on important road infrastructure projects being carried out by the institution in the province of Samaná.
Ascención conducted a supervisory visit to the works in the province, and noted that the entrance to Samaná has had some difficulties inherent to the works being carried out.
“We have had to expropriate hundreds of properties, where the first ones were for the width of the road and then, due to slope stability, we had to include other properties that were not initially considered,” he said.
He explained that the existing aqueduct pipes had technical gaps and the MOPC, together with the National Institute of Drinking Water and Sewerage (INAPA), assumed the replacement of these, and subsequent placement of a new network of pipes that will replace the old one.
"In order to guarantee permanent work and avoid the need for short-term intervention, we have had to replace all of that piping. These pipes have already been ordered since they are not available on the market but are located outside the country, and their arrival will take seven months," he said.
He added that Public Works, together with the construction company Malespín, are in charge of the construction of the entrance to Samaná, and they have made a work plan so that the paving of a third lane can begin in the coming weeks.
"A plan has been made to pave a third lane within a week so that by December three lanes will be ready until the work of laying pipes is completed, allowing us to proceed with the completion of the fourth and final lane of the road, and deliver this important project to the province of Samaná," said Ascención.
He clarified that the reasons why the work on the entrance to Samaná will not be delivered in a shorter time were the complications of the terrain and these have prolonged them.
Ascención also inspected the El Valle-La Laguna road, which will be four kilometers long and include a bridge.
“These works are being carried out with funds from the Fiona storm tender; these beams will be placed on the Arroyo San Juan bridge that connects the province of Samaná and El Valle,” he said.
Asphalted
He also announced that in the coming weeks the National Asphalt and Road Construction Program (PROPACC IV) will begin paving approximately 25 kilometers throughout the province of Samaná.
The government, through the Ministry of Public Works and Communications, is building five projects in the province of Samaná, and another eight are in the design and bidding process.
The provincial governor, Teodora Mullix, thanked Minister Ascención for his visit to the province to supervise several projects.
"We are working as a team—the governor's office, the municipal government, and Public Works—and we believe that Samaná will be able to showcase its majestic work, the entrance to Samaná, as soon as possible," he stated.
