Troncoso bridge impassable

[NewsWhore]

The poor condition of the Presidente Troncoso Bridge over the River Haina once again halted the normal flow of traffic to and from the southern region of the country. The bridge had to be closed to traffic at 10:15am on Friday. Reporters from Hoy were told that it would be partially re-opened today, Monday. This route carries 40% of all the freight between Santo Domingo and the south west of the country. The entrance to the capital on the Sanchez Highway was closed on Friday due to the poor condition of the bridge that is located just past the toll station. Drivers and pedestrians who use the bridge complain of the bad condition and the frequent traffic interruptions, all without a definitive solution to the problems. Employees of the Peaje Dominicana Company that manages the toll booths at km12 of the Sanchez Highway said that each day the bridge is closed they lose RD$430,000. Deputy Public Works Minister Mayobanex Escoto Vasquez told reporters that the ministry would spend RD$20 million on repairing one of the main columns, requiring in-depth work. He said that traffic was stopped during the work because the weight of the bridge forced a footing of the column to move. He promised that the repairs would extend the bridge's lifespan by 20 years.

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