Dominican Republic Advances $4.5 Billion Peso Bridge Project in Santo Domingo Este

The Dominican Republic’s Ministry of Public Works and Communications (MOPC) is moving forward with major infrastructure projects across Greater Santo Domingo, including a new movable bridge over the Ozama River designed to improve connections between Santo Domingo Este and the National District. Minister Eduardo Estrella said the bridge contract has been awarded, with an estimated investment of RD$4.5 billion and a construction schedule of 24 months.

New movable bridge planned alongside existing structure

The planned bridge will be built next to the existing floating bridge linking Santo Domingo Este with the National District. According to Estrella, the new structure will use a bascule design, in which a movable section can be raised to allow vessels to pass. The system is similar in concept to movable bridges used in Miami, including the Brickell area.

Estrella said the tendering and contract-award process has been completed and that the government is finalizing procedures to release the initial payment. The first advance is set at 20% of the contract value, equivalent to more than RD$900 million. The project will follow a design-and-build model, with a planned execution period of two years, although officials are considering options to shorten the delivery schedule.

The new crossing is intended to strengthen connectivity between two of the capital area’s principal urban jurisdictions. The existing floating bridge currently provides a direct connection across the Ozama River, making the replacement project relevant to daily traffic and movement between the eastern side of the metropolitan area and the National District.

Charles de Gaulle road project targets December 2027 completion

Another major project is a grade-separated interchange at the intersection of Charles de Gaulle Avenue, Sabana Perdida Avenue and La Victoria Avenue. The works are also intended to improve connections with the cable car transport system, integrating road infrastructure with public transit in a rapidly developing part of Greater Santo Domingo.

Estrella said utility pipes belonging to the water supply system have been relocated and that piling work is underway. The project has a contract value of RD$1.3 billion, of which RD$132 million had been paid for completed work, according to the minister. The target completion date is December 2027, within an estimated construction period of 18 months.

The interchange forms part of broader efforts to improve urban mobility by addressing road junctions and connections between residential areas and public transport. Its eventual impact will depend on construction progress, coordination with utility providers and how effectively traffic flows are managed during and after the works.

Luperón Avenue drainage works involve multibillion-peso investment

The minister also outlined progress on the second phase of the drainage project along Luperón Avenue. The contracted investment for the works stands at approximately RD$31 billion, and payments had already exceeded RD$9.5 billion. Estrella said an additional payment of around RD$940 million was expected to be disbursed in the following days.

Drainage infrastructure is particularly relevant to urban areas exposed to intense rainfall, where insufficient capacity can contribute to flooding, disrupt transport and damage property. The project’s progress and final results will be important to residents and road users in the areas served by the system.

Asphalt work expands in Boca Chica and nearby communities

Estrella said road surfacing work has also been accelerated in Boca Chica, La Caleta, La Ureña, Los Frailes and along Las Damas Avenue. The government plans to change the name of Las Damas Avenue to avoid confusion with the historic street of the same name in Santo Domingo’s Colonial City.

In Boca Chica and La Caleta, the paving program is being coordinated with the National Institute of Potable Water and Sewerage (INAPA) to ensure that road improvements are compatible with sanitation and sewerage projects. This coordination is intended to reduce conflicts between infrastructure works and the need to install or upgrade underground services.

The MOPC estimates that investments in the area between 2024 and October 2026 have totaled approximately RD$4.5 billion to RD$4.8 billion. The projects form part of a wider effort to upgrade roads, drainage and transport connections across Greater Santo Domingo, where growing urban activity places continued pressure on the metropolitan road network.

Further information on infrastructure announcements and public works projects is available through the official Ministry of Public Works and Communications website.