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Construction of the Metro Line 1 expansion in Villa Mella is suspended until January 2027 to prioritize the settlement of expropriation claims. The Empresa Metropolitana de Transporte (EMT) has halted work on the L-1B segment to resolve pending indemnifications totaling approximately RD$448–450 million. This pause affects the stretch from Mamá Tingó station to San Felipe, where commercial protests have pressured authorities to accelerate payments.
EMT Vice President Jhael Isa confirmed that funds will be distributed in stages, starting with property owners whose land is required for the first station near Escuela Ramón Matías Mella. Eugenio Reynoso, representing affected merchants, noted that while direct owners receive priority, indirect damages and tenants are also being processed. The EMT plans to meet monthly with business owners to verify case progress, aiming to clear the first phase by December 2026 so construction can resume immediately.
The suspension contrasts with the original government projection of a March 2027 completion for the entire expansion. Under the new phased approach, only the first station is targeted for delivery by December 2027. The second station, located near a Liverpool supermarket, remains under evaluation regarding design and terrain. Physical construction currently stands at 30–40%, with civil works projected to reach 70–80% by late 2027. However, final station readiness depends on international electromechanical equipment bids still in progress.
While officials maintain that the overall project calendar is intact, the delay in handing over the first station represents a nine-month slip from the initial 36-month pledge made when President Luis Abinader broke ground in March 2023.