The scarce signage in intervened sections, plugslumps in the pavement, lack of guardrails, power line poles that violate the right of way and the illegal crossings that generate accidents, are part of the problems in the Duarte highway from the kilometer 9 towards the region of Cibao.
Driving the 270 kilometers of the comprehensive project reconstruction, expansion and modernization carried out by the Ministry of Public Works from 2022 to speed up and improve the fluidity of traffic on the road, implies levels of concentration and care that generate stress in drivers.
Where does the problem start?
The journey begins in kilometer 9where for four years they have been working on expanding that section to 14 lanes, constructing a pedestrian, two bridges, one marginal and limiting the bus terminal.
The works have generated plugs that extend up to two kilometers, mainly at the entrance to the city in the peak hours. From the kilometer 17 until the 28th, in Peter Brand, six traffic lights they also generate plugsof greater extension towards the entrance of the capital city.
The first traffic light is at the bottom of the elevated entrance to Los Alcarrizos, kilometer 17the second on 18 next to the road that leads to Santo Domingo Market; the third in La Guáyiga, the fourth against Satellite citykilometer 24, and fifth and sixth at kilometers 27 and a half and 28 of Peter Brand.
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Some of the sections intervened by the Ministry of Public Works that aim to widen the road and that require careful travel begin at kilometer 25, in front of the 16 de Agosto Military Camp, where there was an illegal crossing that generated frequent accidents. In that section a wall is built to where the old toll was with a safe return.
In it kilometer 28 The authorities are contemplating building an elevated, due to the traffic jam that originates at that point, mainly with vehicles that travel from the Northern region to the National District and a few meters away they added two new lanesone on both sides and a wall is built in the median of the road.
Another section is the toll at kilometer 32, where 22 lanesbut which are then reduced to six, three on each side, creating a kind of funnel.
Less than 500 meters away, a operational return where the three lanes are reduced to two. In this section there is electric signage at night in a north-south direction.
Safe returns
In Villa Altagracia Work is underway on the expansion of a section, where accidents frequently occurred due to the constant crossing of engines. A bridge for motorcycles was built here and they were placed soundtracks in both directions.
At kilometer 44 another one is in operation operational returnThe same happens in the community of Básima, in the Monseñor Nouel province. In it kilometer 53 The track has a bearing with a group due to the bumps that have been placed for years, which affects the stability of the vehicles.
Along the way, power line poles were placed in the pedestrian part without railings of protection as mandated Law 684-65which in article 14 establishes the right of way, which means that on both sides of trunk roads such as Duarte, 15 meters must be left free of construction.
In White Stone A stretch of just over a kilometer is expanded by adding a lane on both sides to connect with the elevated road, which was recently bumpy due to the holes it presented.
Next to the bridge over the Yuna River, another one was built. operational return that drivers use safely and the same thing happens as in the others, that the lanes are reduced, although they have signs in most cases.
Lack of protection
A common element in the journey is the absence of railings in sections with hollows. Some have been impacted and have remained folded for years without being replaced by the authorities.
In some of the sections intervened by the authorities, personnel from Public works and the companies contractors They are responsible for warning drivers about the danger by waving flags.
While the authorities advance in the transformation of the country’s main road, those who travel it daily face an odyssey marked by plugsabrupt lane reductions, detours and latent risks. The promise is a more modern and safer highway; The current reality, however, demands extreme caution and nerves of steel.
