The Ministry of Public Works (MOPC) has determined the cause of a recent landslide that occurred at Punta Balendrita along the Las Galeras-Samaná highway. A team of engineering experts dispatched to the area conducted a thorough assessment.
According to the MOPC’s findings, the landslide was triggered by the failure of a geologically unstable slope composed of loose, unconsolidated material such as silt, clay, sand, and gravel. The presence of groundwater seeping from the mountain exacerbated the situation, eroding the slope and contributing to its instability.
To ensure the continued flow of traffic while repairs are underway, the Ministry says it will implement a temporary one-lane system.
Additionally, the MOPC plans to install a drainage system, reinforce the slope, and construct protective barriers to mitigate the impact of wave action, which is believed to be a major contributing factor to the slope failure.
While the rains damaged the access road, the actual town of Las Galeras did not suffer significant damages from the rains. The flooding, nevertheless, impacts in Las Terrenas were considerable given the over-construction in that popular tourism destination. Administrative Minister of the Presidency Andres Bautista was in Las Terrenas to oversee the damages and participate in corrective actions in time to prepare for the peak Christmas holiday season.
The Ministry of Public Works has been working to address infrastructure damage caused by heavy rainfall that has affected the northern region of the country, including Samaná and Puerto Plata, over the past two weeks.
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El Nuevo Diario
N Digital
19 November 2024