Santo Domingo.-President Luis Abinader inaugurated this Sunday the Plaza de la Bandera tunnel and the comprehensive renovation of this emblematic public space, a work designed to transform mobility in Greater Santo Domingo, speed up exit to the Southern region and consolidate a road corridor that promotes the economic and social development of that area of ​​the country.

During the event, where the president was accompanied by the first lady, Raquel Arbaje, he stated that the infrastructure represents one of the most important works carried out by his management in terms of urban mobility, considering that it will significantly reduce travel times, decongest one of the points of greatest vehicular flow in the capital and offer safer and more efficient circulation for thousands of drivers who use this corridor daily.

President Abinader expressed that these types of projects reflect the vision of a government focused on solving the daily problems of the population, pointing out that governing also means respecting citizens' time and developing works that improve their quality of life.

The head of state explained that the new road system has an extension of 1.2 kilometers with four lanes and allows underground passage under the Plaza de la Bandera, to provide continuity to Gregorio Luperón Avenue and eliminate one of the main traffic bottlenecks at the exit to the southern provinces.

He indicated that the work required an investment of RD 3.3 billion and highlighted that it was possible thanks to the resources obtained after the renegotiation of the concession contract with Aeropuertos Dominicanos Siglo XXI (Aerodom), a decision that he described as an example of responsible administration of public resources.

The president maintained that the benefits of this renegotiation are beginning to materialize in high-impact projects for the population, by converting extraordinary resources into infrastructure that improves the country's competitiveness, strengthens road safety and generates well-being for thousands of families.

During his speech, he recalled that the Plaza de la Bandera roundabout could support more than 2,500 vehicles per hour during periods of greatest demand, a situation that caused long congestion and loss of time for those who traveled daily between the National District, Santo Domingo Oeste and the southern provinces.

He stated that the inauguration of the tunnel constitutes only part of a comprehensive plan to modernize the country's road infrastructure and strengthen connectivity with the Southern region, an area that, according to him, for decades waited for investments of this magnitude to fully develop its economic potential.

In that sense, he cited as part of that strategy the Pintura overpass, the Baní and Azua bypasses, the advance of the cable car from Santo Domingo to Haina and its connection with the Los Alcarrizos Metro, in addition to the improvements in the roads that connect San Cristóbal, Peravia, Azua, Barahona and Pedernales.

The president pointed out that these works form an axis of development that will bring opportunities, facilitate trade, boost tourism, improve the transportation of goods and strengthen integration between the capital and the entire Southern region.

Likewise, he highlighted that the intervention respected the historical and symbolic value of the Plaza de la Bandera, considered one of the most representative spaces of national identity. He explained that the project was designed to modernize road infrastructure without affecting the historical heritage, integrating urban development and conservation.

The president stated that the Plaza de la Bandera was not only restored, but strengthened as a public space for the enjoyment of citizens, keeping its historical significance intact while an infrastructure designed to respond to the needs of urban growth circulates beneath it.

"Under this square the future will circulate; our history remains above it," said the president when defining the meaning of the work, which he described as a combination of progress, mobility, national identity and vision of the future.

Finally, the president reiterated that the sustained growth experienced by the Dominican Republic requires continuing to invest in modern, efficient and safe infrastructure that accompany the economic development of the country and raise the quality of life of the population.

At the end of his speech, he urged citizens to make this new space their own and reaffirmed his government's commitment to continue promoting projects that connect all regions of the national territory, generate opportunities and strengthen development from Santo Domingo to the extreme south of the country.

Work will benefit about 300,000 people

The Minister of Public Works, Eduardo Estrella, said that this tunnel has a length of 1.2 kilometers and was designed to move 2,500 vehicles per hour.

Likewise, he stated that the work is part of the second stage of the road solution in the area and that it will benefit some 300,000 people.

The work began in February 2025 and, according to the minister, it was carried out in approximately a year and a half, a period that he described as a record for an infrastructure of that magnitude.

He maintained that in terms of security, the tunnel has ventilation and gas extraction systems, fire fighting equipment, emergency power plants, monitoring connected to the 911 System and a control room for the operation of the infrastructure.

Present were former President Hipólito Mejía; the president of the Senate, Ricardo de los Santos; that of the Chamber of Deputies, Alfredo Pacheco; the administrative minister of the Presidency, Andrés Bautista; the Defense, Lieutenant General Carlos Antonio Fernández Onofre, and the mayor of the Santo Domingo Oeste municipality, Francisco Peña, among other personalities.