Puente Juan Pablo Duarte, Suspension bridge over the Ozama River in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

The Puente Juan Pablo Duarte is a suspension bridge over the Ozama River linking the Distrito Nacional with Santo Domingo Este. Its central span of 175.5 metres hangs from two groups of twenty cables, and its towers rise 55 metres. The adjoining spans are reinforced concrete built with the Gerber beam system: 135.8 metres on the Santo Domingo side and 260 metres on the Villa Duarte side.

Inaugurated on 17 December 1955 under Rafael Leónidas Trujillo, the bridge was built for the Feria de la Paz y Confraternidad del Mundo Libre. It replaced the crossing lost when the Puente Ulises Heureaux was destroyed by Hurricane San Zenón in 1930. It cost five million pesos. In 1965, bombardments during the Guerra de Abril broke five cables on its south side, forcing immediate repairs.

The bridge carries the name of Juan Pablo Duarte, a national hero recognized across the Dominican Republic. For locals, it represents a vital link in their daily lives between two major city areas.

The bridge has multiple lanes and handles thousands of daily vehicles, so traffic can be heavy during peak hours. As a pedestrian, wear sturdy shoes and stay aware of traffic volume if you cross on foot.

The 1998 refurbishment was entrusted to the Dominican-British consortium Conde-Mouchel for 14 million dollars, but after five years without substantial progress it abandoned the works in November 2003, citing unpaid bills. The bridge had already lost five cables on its southern side to bombing during the April 1965 war.