Spotlight: Transport infra projects moving forward in Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic approved 66 public investment projects worth 60.3bn pesos (US$1.10bn) in September, with the majority related to transport infrastructure. 

A total of 399 projects were approved in January-September with a combined investment of 238bn pesos, representing the largest amount in five years, according to the monthly Datosnip report from the public investment department.

The 38 approved transport projects will require investments of 54.9bn pesos, or 91% of the September total. 

BNamericas takes a look at two of the largest projects, which are overseen by the public works and communications ministry.

New station for Santo Domingo metro’s line No. 1 

The project will expand line No. 1 of the capital’s metro from Mamá Tingó station to a new station in Punta de Villa Mella, in the north of the city. 

The plan is to reduce congestion at Mamá Tingó and improve connectivity between several districts. 

Large parking lots will be built for the new and other stations to give people an incentive to use their cars less, local news outlet Diario Libre reported Rafael Santos Pérez, director of the transport rearrangement office, as saying.

Construction is expected to begin in 2023 and works will last two years, according to the public investment department. 

In October, Spanish companies Ayesa and Transportes Metropolitanos de Barcelona (TMB) were awarded a contract to supervise works for the expansion.  

Power substations for the expansion of line No. 2

The project will see the construction of traction power substations along the expansion of line No. 2, which will have an extension of 7.3km and five new stations. 

Works to install the substations are expected to begin in 2023 and finish in 2025.

The new stretch will run from kilometer 9 of the Duarte highway to Los Alcarrizos municipality, and the project also includes a cable car station. 

Nearly 800m of the stretch will run underground from the María Montez station to a 6.5km-elevated viaduct.