The bridges will be one made of concrete and the other a metal structure.
Taken from Listín Diario
SANTO DOMINGO- The Ministry of Public Works and Communications (MOPC) announced the construction of two pedestrian bridges that will cross the Las Américas highway. One will connect the Ensanche Isabelita and the Reparto Los Tres Ojos, and the other will serve as a link between the Plaza de la Cultura and the Plaza Juan Pablo Duarte, in the municipality of Santo Domingo Este.
The technical director of the MOPC, Amos Martínez, said that for more than 25 years these pedestrian bridges have been demanded by the residents of these areas, since they are of great importance to those who live in these areas and to the development of Santo Domingo Este.
“Following instructions from President Luis Abinader and Minister Deligne Ascención, we are announcing to the country the construction of these two bridges, which are of utmost importance and have been demanded by the residents of these areas for more than 25 years to resolve a situation that we are honored to announce to the country today,” he added.
He explained that the bridges will be one made of concrete and the other a metal structure.
“Soil studies and some cost adjustments will be made in the coming days,” he said.
For his part, the mayor of Santo Domingo East, Manuel Jiménez, thanked President Luis Abinader and Ascención for making the decision to announce the construction of these two projects.
He said the works have a great impact on the city.
“One of them will create accessibility from the Culture stop to Juan Pablo Duarte Square, since it was recovered and put into service for the residents, and has an auditorium for 600 people,” he explained.
Reactions from local residents
Residents of the various sectors that affect the area appreciated the initiative to build the pedestrian bridges, understanding that the vast majority of their residents are daily users of the Las Américas highway.
Samuel Mercedes, president of the Eugenio Mercedes neighborhood association in La Isabelita II, thanked President Abinader for taking the communities in these areas into account, and said that the bridges will have a great impact on the residents of those sectors.
“Many people have lost their lives crossing that section of the Las Américas highway; many residents have died on this road due to the many dangers caused by the heavy traffic. We ask the President to help us, as this is a very important project for the Ensanche Isabelita community,” he stated.
Carlos Rolling, a resident of Los Tres Ojos, explained that the measure to build the bridges is appropriate, "because it solves a problem, and we, elderly people like me, find it very difficult to cross the highway, and with this pedestrian bridge they are protecting our physical integrity; it is the best thing the government has done for us.".
Julio Peña, another community member, expressed that the measure is positive. “It really is dangerous for people who cross this highway daily; some people are hesitant to cross at this time of day, and often end up spending extra money on bus fare to take another route instead of crossing here.”.
Santa Teresa Peláez, a resident of the area, thanked Minister Deligne Ascención for echoing the residents' complaints, as they endanger their lives when crossing the highway.
“This benefits us greatly since many accidents happen here every week, and sometimes they happen daily. This is a very good measure by President Luis Abinader,” he said.
Aracelis del Rosario, a resident of Ensanche Isabelita, said that the measure taken by the government is timely, since it solves a problem for the entire sector.
“Very well, because it is very difficult to cross here, it is dangerous and you have to wait quite a while to be able to cross,” he said.
