Minister of Public Works Deligne Ascención on 15 January 2025 provided details of how the ministry has invested the funds generated from the renegotiated concession contract with Aeropuertos Dominicanos Siglo XXI (Aerodom).
Ascención revealed that a significant portion of the revenue has been channeled into the reconstruction of roadways in the Greater Santo Domingo area and other provinces across the nation. “We have constructed hundreds of kilometers of roads,” he emphasized. “In fact, the president will be inaugurating a new section near the San Isidro Expressway this Saturday, he said when interviewed on TeleAntillas Channel 2’s “Uno + Uno” talk show.
The minister mentioned specific projects funded by these revenues. He highlighted the ongoing work on Pintura, Isabel Aguiar, and 27 de Febrero and Av. República de Colombia avenues.
Looking ahead, Ascención announced that the ministry will be issuing a tender next week for a new bridge to replace the Flotante Bridge and for a new overpass on Charles de Gaulle Avenue near the Sabana Perdida cable car.
“Next week, we will open the bidding process for a bridge that will replace the Floating Bridge, and we will also initiate construction on an overpass on Charles de Gaulle Avenue, near the Sabana Perdida cable car,” Ascención announced on the program hosted by journalists Adalberto Grullón and Millizen Uribe.
President Luis Abinader when arguing in favor of the extension of the Vinci (Aerodom) contract had said the advance funds that would be obtained from not sending the contract to a new tender would enable several constructions. At the time he said the US$775 million that he said would be received in a six-month period would be used for improving roadways and healthcare facilities mainly in the Greater Santo Domingo and nearby San Cristobal area. The specifically mentioned projects were:
- Road Construction and Asphalt Projects
A large-scale asphalt program is underway in key areas such as La Caleta, Boca Chica, and around the airport, as well as throughout the Greater Santo Domingo and other municipalities. The total investment in this project is approximately US$350 million. - Expressway from Plaza de la Bandera to Isabel Aguiar
An expressway project is set to connect Plaza de la Bandera to Isabel Aguiar (Pintura), linking to the 6 de Noviembre Highway. The planned investment for this road construction is around US$148 million. - Avenue enhancements
Another significant project includes upgrading the junction at Avenida República de Colombia and Avenida Los Próceres, with plans for an expressway leading to the Jacobo Majluta Highway. Additionally, improvements will be made to the road between República de Colombia and Avenida Monumental. This project carries an estimated investment of US$108 million. - New Bridge over the Ozama River
The government is also moving forward with the construction of a US$50 million movable bridge to replace the existing floating bridge across the Ozama River, a key transit route in the capital. - New Bridge Parallel to Jacinto Peynado Bridge
A new bridge parallel to the Jacinto Peynado Bridge will be built to connect Avenida Máximo Gómez with Avenida Hermanas Mirabal in Santo Domingo Norte. The investment for this project is approximately US$56 million. - Sabana Perdida-La Victoria Highway Intersection
Another planned improvement includes a new overpass at the intersection of the Sabana Perdida-La Victoria highway and Charles de Gaulle Avenue, with an estimated investment of US$30 million. - Trauma Unit in San Cristóbal
The government will also invest US$15 million in the construction of a trauma unit in San Cristóbal to improve healthcare services in the region. - Small and Medium-Scale Infrastructure Projects
In addition to the large-scale projects, 139 smaller infrastructure initiatives are set to be carried out across the country. Of these, 80 will focus on sports facilities, with a combined investment of US$18 million.
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15 January 2025