Regarding bridges, the plan includes 220 structures, 51 of which are under construction and 21 of which will be delivered in the next three months
SANTO DOMINGO.– During the second installment of the Dominican government's new accountability model, the Weekly Agenda, details were offered about the country's extensive road transformation program, the aspirations to reduce the housing deficit, and the progress in various infrastructure projects that the current administration, headed by President Luis Abinader, has launched and plans to implement.
In this way, the Minister of Public Works and Communications, Eduardo Estrella, outlined the plans that the State seeks to counteract the vehicular congestion experienced on Dominican roads, presenting a broad plan that involves more than 900 kilometers and three entrances at strategic points to accelerate traffic.
He highlighted that the Dominican Republic has one of the largest road networks in Latin America, and emphasized the current priority on the entrances to Greater Santo Domingo and on eliminating obstacles to interregional transit.
“The infrastructure agenda of the Ministry of Public Works is marked by the president’s vision of developing works in the present, also with a vision towards the future,” Estrella stated.
Three overpasses to advance without traffic lights
Eduardo Estrella said that significant progress has been made in improving connectivity within Greater Santo Domingo. Among the projects already completed or inaugurated, he mentioned the work on Plaza de la Bandera and its underground connection to Avenida Isabel Aguiar (Pintura) towards Avenida Luperón, the Avenida Ecológica, linked to the Caucedo Bridge, and the improvements at the entrance to the Duarte Highway at kilometer 9.
The vision for the future includes three overpasses at the entrance to the Duarte Highway: those at kilometers 28, 22, and 17. The one at kilometer 28 has already been awarded and the expropriation process is beginning; the one at kilometer 22 is in the process of being awarded, and the one at kilometer 17 has been put out to tender through RD Vial.
These works, combined with other bypasses, will allow people to leave Santo Domingo heading north without traffic lights.
“There will absolutely be no traffic lights for leaving Santo Domingo heading north. This will allow those coming from Montecristi, using other bypasses, to reach Punta Cana without passing through a traffic light,” the minister emphasized.
He added that, once the Amber Highway is completed, it will also be possible to travel from Puerto Plata to Pedernales without traffic light interruptions.
In addition, the expansion of the Sánchez highway is being put out to tender, from the Haina tollbooth to the ring road (approximately four kilometers), a narrow alternative route that will facilitate entry through the Malecón, from the south or the Cibao, without needing to use the entrances at kilometer 9, or Pintura.
Eduardo Estrella, Minister of Public Works. (External source).
"In this way, three main entrances to the capital city will be consolidated.".
The official explained that inside the capital, work is progressing on Avenida República de Colombia (kilometer 13) and Jacobo Magluta, which will integrate the flow through Pérez Ricart to the exit near the Botanical Garden.
“To the north, access is strengthened via Monte Plata, with an overpass on Charles de Gaulle towards La Victoria to decongest traffic, and another level crossing on the Sabana Perdida road, near the last exit of the cable car.”.
Bascule bridge over the Ozama River and modernization of the Duarte Highway
Estrella announced that the contract for the bascule (lift) bridge that will replace the current floating bridge over the Ozama River will be awarded this week . Unlike the floating bridge, which requires a two- to three-hour closure for vessel traffic, the new bridge will only be open for about 15 minutes, similar to the drawbridges in Miami.
The work is part of the commitments financed with resources from the renegotiation of Aerodom, as are the interventions in Plaza de la Bandera, Pintura and the passage in Charles de Gaulle-La Victoria.
“On the Duarte Highway, priority is being given to the sections towards Villa Altagracia and from the Santiago airport to Loma Miranda, with the widening of bridges to six lanes, the closure of areas, and the construction of U-turns. These U-turns will eliminate hundreds of dangerous at-grade crossings, high-accident hotspots like the entrance to Santo Cerro,” he said.
He stated that return lanes have already been enabled, such as the one at the old tollbooth (closing the crossing from the First Army Brigade) and several in the Republic of Colombia, with positive results in traffic flow and safety, according to community reports.
Ring roads and strategic corridors
In addition to the Azua and Baní bypasses, the Government is carrying out five major projects: Navarrete (scheduled for delivery this year, it will benefit the four provinces of the Northwest Line and the port of Manzanillo, “the closest to the United States”), Los Alcarrizos, Moca, San Francisco de Macorís and La Otra Banda (the latter will alleviate the traffic jams of workers who travel daily from Higüey to Bávaro and Punta Cana).
He stated that the four-lane Navarrete bypass will be complemented by a six-kilometer extension to the Esperanza intersection , including an overpass that will separate traffic towards Esperanza, Mao and Santiago Rodríguez from that which continues to Montecristi and Dajabón.
Estrella explained that, in the south, the extension from the end of the Baní ring road (already with the Galeón bridge to four lanes) to the Ocoa intersection will be put out to tender, with an overpass to the Los Pilones bridge, plus an overpass at the 15th of Azua.
He said that the Ecological Avenue, almost entirely completed, constitutes a second entrance from the east and connects the port of Caucedo, dividing the traffic flow on the Las Américas Highway. “This will create the future need to widen the first 10 kilometers of Juan Pablo II Avenue, from the Ecological Avenue to the ring road.”
957 km of roads and a plan for 220 bridges
The official noted that 957 kilometers of roads are currently under construction and that an additional 141 kilometers will be delivered in the next three months.
“In San Francisco de Macorís alone, 46 kilometers have been delivered recently, and more than 50 will be added, totaling about 104 kilometers of secondary roads in that province.”.
A 103-kilometer corridor from the east (including sections already opened or about to be opened such as Bayaguana-Monte Plata and Monte Plata-Cevicos) will allow the east and northeast to be connected with the northwest without passing through the capital.
Bridges
Regarding bridges, the plan includes 220 structures. 51 are currently under construction, and 21 will be completed in the next three months (including the Los Hierros bridge over the Baní River).
Forty-three new bridges were awarded, and 65 more will be put out to tender, in addition to 35 repair projects. A program for 150 bridges with the Inter-American Development Bank stands out, as do the studies for the extensive repair of the Duarte, Hermanos Patiño, Juan Bosch, and San Pedro de Macorís bridges, designed to last 40 to 50 years. Currently, the bridges at 17th Street and La Barquita are being repaired, with families living beneath them being relocated for their safety.
Estrella also mentioned the road transformation of the Santiago and San José de Las Matas mountain range, with the inauguration next Saturday of the San José de Las Matas-Monción highway, and plans to expand the Ramón Cáceres roads to four lanes towards Moca and San Francisco de Macorís, plus a bridge over the Gurabo stream, on Hatuey Avenue in Santiago.
The minister emphasized that all these interventions respond to a comprehensive and priority vision, executed in stages according to needs, with the support of an infrastructure oversight commission made up of personalities from the public and private sectors.
