The Minister of Public Works, Ramon Antonio Garcia Santos, told the news media that the project to install storm water drainage systems along the Carretera Sanchez (the extension of Avenida Independencia) from Kilometer 71/2 to 81/2 will be accelerated in order to permit the normal traffic flow. Extensive trenches were dug along the road eight months ago, and while some have been filled in, many remain open and pose a danger to pedestrians and considerably slow down the traffic. In addition to the inconvenience caused by the work, the deaths of eight people have been attributed to the trenches, mostly in cases where children who were standing too close to the road because of the trenches were hit by speeding public buses.
The installation of the drainage system was begun in response to the frequent flooding of the area’s streets by rainwater.
1-7 March 1996