In medium priority 491 and in low priority 1,566.
SANTO DOMINGO.-Of the 2,264 bridges scattered throughout the national territory, 207 are in a situation of intervention or high priority, 491 are in medium priority and 1,566 are in low priority, according to the National Bridge Census, prepared by the Ministry of Public Works and Communications (MOPC).
According to the report released yesterday at a press conference by the head of the agency, Deligne Ascención, the current administration, which he leads, has 474 projects in its portfolio, having completed work on 39 of them.
Another 50 are in the process of execution, 61 have been awarded and 49 are under construction within the projects developed by the Ministry, the official specified.
For the bridges currently under construction by the Ministry of Public Works and Communications (MOPC), the total investment amounts to 7,057.2 million pesos, not including ongoing projects. For those bridges that have been put out to tender, according to the figures provided, the investment is 2,583.2 million pesos.
The Census
According to Ascención, the investigation carried out by Public Works will serve as a basis for planning the construction, reconstruction and maintenance of these structures in the National District and the 31 provinces of the country.
He explained that the survey aims to provide a comprehensive view of the current condition of bridges across the country.
Deligne Ascención announced the census results at a press conference. (External source).
"This census, which was carried out throughout the national territory, revealed that the Dominican Republic has 2,264 bridges. We have georeferenced them and classified them as large, medium, and small, and its objective is to provide a comprehensive view of the current conditions and thereby strengthen planning for the maintenance and future development of these essential structures," the official said.
The General Directorate of Bridges of the MOPC prepared a map containing the locations of each of these structures, with photographs of their conditions and the evaluation carried out in each case and with explanations relating to the inventory carried out.
It will also serve as a reference when searching for information on a specific bridge and for carrying out the precise execution of maintenance, repair and reconstruction work on these bridges, through the different projects and processes carried out by the Ministry, aimed at the conservation of these important structures.
It also provides valuable data for planning the maintenance and improvement of infrastructure; determining risks and prioritizing the conservation investment needed for each bridge, giving priority to those in a state of emergency.
Classification of structures
According to road type, the classification of bridges is as follows: 435 bridges on main or trunk roads; 1,247 on secondary or regional roads; and 582 on tertiary roads.
According to their use: 1,797 road bridges; 170 grade-separated crossings; 98 pedestrian bridges; 10 motorway overpasses; and 189 culvert bridges.
In Greater Santo Domingo and the province of Santiago there are 456 bridges, of which 250 are in the latter province alone; in the Cibao Sur Region (La Vega, Monseñor Nouel, and Sánchez Ramírez provinces) there are 283 bridges; in the Cibao Norte Region (Puerto Plata, Espaillat, and Hermanas Mirabal provinces) there are 275 bridges.
Also, the Higuamo Region (Monte Plata, Hato Mayor, and San Pedro de Macorís) has 258 bridges; the Valdesia Region (San Cristóbal, San José de Ocoa, and Peravia) has 205; the Northeast Region (María Trinidad Sánchez, Duarte, and Samaná) has 196; and the El Valle Region (Elías Piña, San Juan, and Azua) has 196 bridges.
Likewise, the Northwest Regional (Montecristi, Valverde, Dajabón and Santiago Rodríguez) with 193 bridges; the Yuma Regional (La Altagracia, El Seibo and La Romana) with 123, and the Enriquillo Regional (Independencia, Bahoruco, Barahona and Pedernales) with 95 bridges.
