Bonao, Dominican Republic.- Downpours in the last few hours had swelled a river which collapsed a bridge in Monseñor Noel province, in the central part of the country, forcing the close of the southbound lanes on the Duarte Highway.
Public Works Ministry crews work frantically to build an additional column an reopen the lanes prior to the massive return of vacationers from the northern regions, back to Santo Domingo.
A swelled Jatubey river buckled the bridge near the community Palero, around 10 miles north of Bonao, where traffick backed up for several kilometers on Thursday, forcing traffic police to detour southbound vehicles to one of the northbound lanes.