An engineering review of the ground conditions in the Los Prados neighborhood of Santo Domingo has given the go-ahead for construction in the area to resume.
On Monday, 8 February the ground collapsed in front of house on 23 Font Bernard Street in the neighborhood. A car parked outside the house fell into the hole. The sinkhole continued to expand for several more days. A business located next door, which sold industrial safety equipment, relocated after the incident. The Ministry of Public Works blocked access to the area and ordered an geological survey.
The original developers of the middle class neighborhood had advised that only one-story dwellings should be built because of the ground conditions. Local residents are blaming excessive construction in the area for the subsidence. Underground caves and terrain not suitable for multi-story constructions has been mentioned as the reasons against building up in the area. Because of the early recommendation, high-rise construction in Los Prados has been limited, despite the fact that the neighborhood dates back to the 1970s. But recently, the Santo Domingo city government has authorized medium-density and buildings of up to five floors, several of which are under construction.
However, during a press conference at the Presidential Palace yesterday, Thursday 25 April, Minister of Public Works Gonzalo Castillo said that there was no risk for constructions. He said the geotechnical research on the sinkhole occurrence in February was carried out by Epsa-Labco. The company found that the sinkhole was caused by specific problems caused by human activity. “The area of Los Prados is safe for the construction of buildings and there is no danger, of course, providing the indicated feasibility studies are carried out,” it said.
Castillo said that the non-jacketed pipes that were installed by the Water Corporation (CAASD) for draining runoff resulted in the erosion of the soft terrain and the subsidence.
Highly reputed engineering company Epsa-Labco carried out 16 perforations in Los Prados as part of the soil research. The company’s recent projects include the construction of the new runway at Punta Cana International Airport.
Castillo announced that rainwater channeling project would be implemented, not only for Los Prados, but also for San Geronimo and La Castellana. The waters would be connected to the drainage tunnel that leads to the Malecon and runs under Nunez de Caceres Avenue.
Castillo was accompanied at the press conference by deputy Public Works minister Claudia Franchesca, Epsa-Labco president, engineer Manuel Gomez Achecar, and Aristides Carrasco, the company’s geotechnical department manager.
www.hoy.com.do/el-pais/2013/4/25/477644/Hundimiento-Los-Prados-fue-provocado-por-filtrante-Caasd
http://presidencia.gob.do/comunicados/ministro-obras-publicas-dice-no-hay-peligro-para-construir-en-los-prados
http://epsalabco.com