The Ministry of Public Works announced the closing of the southern lane of the Duarte Bridge for three months. Traffic will continue on the northern lane of the bridge. Nevertheless, drivers can expect longer than usual bottlenecks. The bridge should be avoided when possible, especially at peak hours. The Duarte Bridge is the oldest bridge that crosses the Ozama River. The Ministry also alerted those driving in Santo Domingo that the stretch of Cesar Nicolás Penson Street between Pedro Henríquez Ureña and Máximo Gómez avenues would be closed. Drainage pipes are being installed in the area. Minister of Public Works Miguel Vargas Maldonado also told the press that his department is planning the construction of two more bridges over the Ozama River. One would run parallel to the Sánchez Bridge, and another would be built near Villa Mella. Furthermore, he said that he is studying French and German proposals to build a metro by John F. Kennedy Avenue. This project had been proposed during the past government.
