The Ministry of Public Works has an extensive maintenance program and announces the closing of different public works for routine maintenance. Yet, maintenance works may have yet to get to the Núñez de Cáceres tunnel that crosses under the Mirador del Sur Park, connecting Av. Núñez de Cáceres with Independencia Avenue and the sea-fronting Malecon.
The candidate for mayor of the National District, Domingo Contreras, for a coalition of opposition parties (Dominican Liberation Party and People’s Force), met with journalists and presented what he describes as a state of abandonment of the drainage tunnel, infrastructure vital to avoid the flooding of the capital city, Noticias SIN reports. Flooding has occurred in November for two consecutive years.
Lack of adequate maintenance in November 2023 resulted in the collapse of a wall on a 27 de Febrero Avenue, leading to several deaths.
“The Núñez tunnel plays a fundamental role in preventing floods and protecting our lives and properties. Its good condition and constant maintenance are essential to ensure that it fulfills its functions effectively,” emphasized Contreras, who is running for mayor for the capital city.
Contreras says the tunnel is the first line of defense that protects against inclement weather and preserves the stability of the capital city.
He says there has been negligence and a lack of long-term maintenance, ineffectiveness of the current administration and its inability to manage and lack of will to execute necessary solutions for citizens.
“Unfortunately, we are forced to point out the ineffectiveness that has characterized tunnel management in recent years. The lack of maintenance is evident, and we experience the results day by day.
“We have witnessed the current administration’s inability to take preventative measures and its reluctance to implement necessary solutions,” he said.
He said the next government must take responsibility for this urgent situation. “We cannot tolerate any more “black Novembers” at the expense of the people. We need leadership committed to the safety and well-being of the people of the capital, which is why we demand concrete and preventive measures to prevent devastating events from affecting our communities in the future,” he said.
Read more in Spanish:
Noticias SIN
1 February 2024