2026News

New pedestrian bridge on Duarte Highway Km 9 facilitates pedestrian and vehicular traffic

Commuters on the Duarte Highway had to endure major inconveniences as the south north lanes were shut down on Sunday, 29 March 2026 for the removal of the pedestrian bridge. The old bridge is replaced by a modern crossway.

The Ministry of Public Works detailed the technical specifications for a new structural landmark at Kilometer 9 of the Duarte Highway. The project features a 52-meter metallic walkway designed to serve as a seamless transition point for the capital’s expanding transit network.

The new pedestrian bridge has a 15-meter cantilever (vuelo) on one side and provides a direct link between the María Montez Station (Metro Line 2), the Santo Domingo Oeste Cable Car (Line 3), and the southern marginal road. The design aims to provide pedestrians with a safe, unobstructed crossing in one of the city’s most congested transit corridors.

Engineering and urban impact
The structure is noted for its “free-span” engineering, which eliminates the need for ground-level supports between the main towers:
• Suspended design: The walkway spans 70 meters from tower to tower without any intermediate columns touching the ground.
• Expanded traffic capacity: By keeping the ground level clear, the project facilitates the creation of 16 traffic lanes below the bridge.
• Pedestrian accessibility: The layout includes wide sidewalks on both sides, ensuring ample space for the high volume of commuters transferring between the Metro and Cable Car systems.

The infrastructure is a critical component of the Integrated Transport System (SIT), aimed at reducing transfer times and improving road safety for thousands of daily users in Santo Domingo Oeste.

On Sunday, 29 March 2026, the Ministry had published an update alerting to the roadworks that would take place from 7am to 5pm on that day on its X account.

Read more in Spanish:
Ministry of Public Works
X Ministry of Public Works
Diario Libre
Diario Libre
N Digital

Listin Diario

30 March 2026