Once the contract is awarded, the estimated time to complete the work is calculated at 18 months
SANTO DOMINGO.- From Puerto Plata, the Minister of the Presidency, José Ignacio Paliza, and the Minister of Tourism, David Collado, presented yesterday, Monday, the comprehensive rehabilitation project of the Puerto Plata cable car, with an estimated budget exceeding 20 million dollars, whose funds will come from the Ministry of Tourism (MITUR) and the Dominican Institute of Civil Aviation (IDAC).
The project consists of three components: the first is studies and designs; the second is supply, support works, assembly and commissioning; and the third is the construction of an electrical supply line.
A symbol of the bride of the Atlantic
“The Puerto Plata Cable Car has been a symbol of Dominican tourism for five decades. Today we begin the process to ensure it remains a benchmark, with cutting-edge technology, enhanced safety, and a world-class experience for our visitors,” Paliza stated.
The official also announced that, after the resources for the project had been identified and allocated, President Luis Abinader would repeal Decree 162-25, which ordered the creation of a public trust for these purposes.
The most notable changes
Among the most notable changes in the project is the modernization of the transport cabins, which will allow for greater visitor demand and reduce waiting times, going from 18 passengers to 50, which represents more than double the current capacity.
The travel time will also be optimized, going from 8 minutes to complete the journey to 5 minutes with the new electromechanical design and an operating speed of 10 meters per second.
David Collado said he was aware of the concern of the people of Puerto Plata regarding the closure of the cable car; however, he explained that this decision responds to a criterion of responsibility, prioritizing the safety of people.
“This process will be carried out with dignity and respect, including the intervention of the vendors' square, guaranteeing that no merchant or worker in this space will be displaced,” he explained.
Updated according to international standards
The project will update the cable car to European UNE-EN standards, including specifications on the safety of double-cable swing cable cars (UNE-EN 12929), maintenance and controls in operation (UNE-EN 1709) and cable inspection (UNE-EN 12927-7).
The initiative, led by the Executive Unit for the Readaptation of Neighborhoods and Environments (URBE), represents the most significant renovation of this infrastructure since its inauguration on July 19, 1975.
The iconic tourist transport system that connects the city with the top of Isabel de Torres Hill will be rehabilitated within an execution period of 18 months from the awarding of the tender.
In addition to the technical modernization, the project includes the remodeling of the stations with universal accessibility and the preservation of the historical identity of the site, reaffirming the Government's commitment to enhancing the value of the Cable Car as one of the most recognized tourist icons in the country and gateway to the Isabel de Torres Hill, a Natural Monument of high landscape and environmental value.
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