Santo Domingo.– The Commission for Supervision of Public Infrastructures in the Face of Climate Change reported that the Juan Pablo Duarte bridge on the Ozama River, maintains adequate conditions of stability and security for its normal operation, despite the images that have recently circulated on social networks and the media.
In a statement addressed to the public, lThe Commission explained that the images released correspond to secondary damage in closing masonry walls, which are not part of the primary structural system of the bridge, so they do not represent a danger to users.
“Preliminary technical analyzes confirm that the road infrastructure maintains the levels of stability and safety necessary for its normal operation under safe conditions, ruling out any type of risk for users,” the document states.
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The information was offered jointly with the National Office for Seismic Evaluation and Vulnerability of Infrastructures and Buildings (Onesvie), an entity that serves as the Executive Directorate of the Commission, in response to concerns expressed in the national press about the current state of the viaduct.
Permanent monitoring and transparency
The Ministry of Public Works and Communications (MOPC) indicated that the condition of the country’s main infrastructure is constantly monitored, including the Duarte bridge that connects the city of Santo Domingo with the Santo Domingo Este municipality in a west-east direction, as part of the national bridge management and maintenance policy.
“In response to the citizen interest expressed in recent hours, we share the technical report issued today by the National Office for Seismic Evaluation and Vulnerability of Infrastructure and Buildings (Onesvie), which details the evaluations carried out on this structure,” the text states.
Tender for diagnostics and preventive maintenance
As part of the preventive actions, the statement recalls that the central government, through the MOPC, maintains open a public bidding process for the contracting of diagnostic services for several bridges in the country, including the Juan Pablo Duarte and Juan Bosch, in Santo Domingo; Patiño Brothers, in Santiago de los Caballeros; and Mauricio Báez, in San Pedro de Macorís.
The objective of this process is to identify any intervention, major or minor, that may be required in these infrastructures considered vital for national connectivity. The project has financing from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).
According to official information, the initiative seeks to obtain “the best possible diagnosis” that allows for in-depth preventive maintenance, based on high-precision tests and the use of modern technology, guaranteeing the safety, stability and durability of these viaducts.
Finally, both the Public Infrastructure Supervision Commission and the MOPC reaffirmed their commitment to transparency, road safety and decision-making based on technical criteria, highlighting the continuous coordination with specialized organizations and the constant monitoring of road infrastructure to preserve the tranquility and safety of citizens.
