El Caribe reports that the delays in repairing the Duarte Bridge have caused the cost of the work to rise to RD$874 million. This is RD$256 million more than the cost of the new Juan Bosch bridge that was erected parallel to Duarte Bridge. In 1998, the bridge repair was entrusted to the Conde Mouchel and Manuel Soto firms. According to El Caribe, as of November 2003, the government had paid RD$314 million for the repairs. Public Works Minister Miguel Vargas says there is no more money for the repair, but an estimated US$14 million is necessary to complete the job. The bridge is one of four that cross Ozama River, linking the east and west southern coasts.