Santo Domingo, DR. -Civil society organizations of the National District and the province of Santo Domingo, integrated into the Coordinator of Don Bosco Neighborhood Organizations (Codonbosco), expressed their satisfaction with the proposal of the National Public Infrastructure Supervision Commission that proposes the demolition and construction of a new Francisco del Rosario Sánchez Bridge, popularly known as the “17th Street Bridge”.
The entities consider it necessary that the president Luis Abinader immediately instruct engineer Eduardo Estrella, Minister of Public Works and Communications, so that, based on the report of that commission, he proceeds to allocate the necessary economic resources for the construction of the new structure.
Among the organizations that support the initiative are the Center for Education for Peace, Tolerance and Development (Cepatode), the Network of Organizations of the 27 de Febrero neighborhood (ReoCofe), the Association of Committees of Housewives of the National District and the Santo Domingo Province (Acadisando), as well as community development committees, community fronts and neighborhood associations.
You may be interested in reading: A sabbatical year with full salary for teachers, the teacher current proposal before Education
Alexis Rafael Peña, spokesperson for the organizations, explained that the communities of the 27 de Febrero, Los Guandules, Agua Dulce, Loma del Chivo, Gualey, La Ciénaga, Guachupita and the Espaillat and Luperón neighborhoods had previously expressed their rejection of a simple repair of the bridge, considering that the advanced structural deterioration and the years of service represent a latent risk of tragedy.
In that sense, he recalled that they had requested President Luis Abinader and the Ministry of Public Works and Communications the construction of a completely new bridge, which guarantees safe access to the thousands of citizens who travel this road daily, both in vehicles and on foot.
Peña indicated that, after analyzing the commission’s proposal, the organizations fully accept the approach of geologist Osiris de León, who pointed out that the bridge, due to the current high vehicle density, requires a parallel structure with a different model. In addition, he warned that a significant part of the steel presents oxidation damage, typical of the country’s coastal climate.
The community spokesperson assured that, from now on, neighborhood and community organizations, churches and neighborhood associations will remain vigilant so that the State assumes this proposal without delay, prioritizing the safety and life of the population.
Likewise, he expressed that this is the fourth time that the member organizations of Codonbosco request the Government to build the “17th Bridge”considering that it has already exceeded its useful life, approaching 60 years of use.
Finally, community leaders from the National District and the Santo Domingo province, including Ángel Molina, Elin Cuevas, José Mieses, Fiordaliza Guzmán, Altagracia Brand, Arsenio Pineda, Dannys Feliz and Felicita Dishmeyreiterated their support for the commission and stressed that the State has the fundamental duty to protect the lives of citizens.
