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RÍO PUERTO NUEVO

Quebradas Doña Ana & Josefina

 
 
Design
Construction Start
Construction End

Quebradas Doña Ana & Josefina

Design & Construction Contract No. 7

10%
Spring 2031
Spring 2036

West Piñero Ave. Bridge

Design & Construction Contract No. 5B

95%
Spring 2027
Summer 2032
Map of the Río Puerto Nuevo Flood Risk Management Project in San Juan, Puerto Rico, showing the planned project construction on Quebradas Doña Ana and Josefina in the Reparto Metropolitano and Urbanizacion las Américas communities.
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In the Reparto Metropolitano and Urbanización las Américas communities, Quebradas Josefina and Doña Ana flow into the Río Piedras at the north end of Luis Muñoz Marín Park. In this neighborhood, hundreds of homes experience flooding on a regular basis.

During heavy rainstorms, the channels overtop their banks and flood the street and homes with several feet of water. Because of the flooding, the stream banks are eroding at a rapid pace and large sections of concrete panel walls and portions of backyards are falling into the channel. Because so many homes have expanded on top of or right next to the failing channel walls, there is concern that more existing channel walls may begin to fall into the channel if the flooding issues are not addressed and the channels are not rebuilt.

Project Information

Quebradas Doña Ana & Josefina

Design & Construction Contract No. 7

In this portion of the project, Quebradas Doña Ana and Josefina will be rerouted and deepened to increase channel capacity and efficiently convey water downstream. The new channels will be built parallel to the existing ones and the original channels will be backfilled after construction. The new channels will be significantly deeper (approximately 10-15 feet deeper) and will be constructed using reinforced concrete pile walls to protect against erosion. After construction, a concrete cap and fence will be placed on top of the channel walls to protect people from falling into the channels.

Additionally, ten small bridges on residential streets throughout the neighborhood will be replaced. These bridges will be widened to match the new width of the channel so that floodwaters can pass underneath them. They also will be built to withstand strong earthquakes.

To increase channel capacity, Quebrada Doña Ana will be rerouted through the middle of San Luis Rey Park. After construction, the remaining green area will be replanted with native non-invasive trees and other vegetation. This new area will create a parklike space for community members and will serve reduce flooding impacts to the community.

Channel wall failures along the Quebrada Doña Ana in the vicinity of San Luis Rey Park
When channel walls fail, residential properties and trees may fall into the river channel, as pictured here. The resulting debris further obstructs the channel and reduces its capacity to move water downstream.
Reparto Metropolitano and Urbanización las Américas
Flooding from Quebradas Josefina & Doña Ana regularly occurs in the Reparto Metropolitano and Urbanización las Américas communities.
Typical view showing section of Quebradas Doña Ana and Josefina
Many factors have led to collapsing channel walls, including the aging infrastructure of the channel itself, along with repeated flooding and property additions.
Urbanización Reparto Metropolitano
During heavy storms in October 2023, channel walls failed and led to the partial collapse of homes and backyards.
Reparto Metropolitano and Urbanización las Américas
Typical flooding from Quebrada Doña Ana regularly impact Avenue Américo Miranda, as seen here at the intersection of Calle 54.
West Piñero Avenue
Over a foot of floodwater regularly covers Piñero Avenue near Andalucía Avenue during intense summer rain events, stopping traffic and damaging vehicles and property.

West Piñero Ave Bridge

Design & Construction Contract No. 5B

The Piñero Avenue Bridge crosses Quebrada Doña Ana near the intersection of Piñero Avenue and Andalucía Avenue. During heavy rainstorms, debris becomes clogged under the bridge and Piñero Avenue floods. To reduce these flooding events, the West Piñero Avenue Bridge will be rebuilt to match the new width of the river and to allow debris and water to move efficiently downstream. The new bridge will also meet the latest seismic requirements to allow them to withstand significant earthquakes.

Construction Information

Quebrada Doña Ana & Josefina

More construction information will be released after the project is awarded to a contractor in 2031.

West Piñero Ave Bridge

More construction information will be released after the project is awarded to a contractor in Spring 2027.

Page Last Updated: June 2025