The Department of Public Works and Highways Eastern Samar District Engineering Office (DPWH ESDEO) has priority twelve national bridges this year subjected to major repair works to ensure road network reliability in the province, especially during calamities.
According to District Engineer Alvin A. Ignacio of DPWH ESDEO, the repair of bridges is a proactive measure of the department to prevent more significant damage to the bridge and strengthen the structure to withstand even calamities.
Engr. Ignacio added that the annual bridge condition survey conducted by the accredited bridge inspectorate in the district office helps identify and select priority bridges for rehabilitation and retrofitting.
The various rehabilitation works conducted by the district office to the identified priority bridges are the repair of bridge approaches, reconstruction of the bridge deck, application of carbon fiber to girders and slab, and installation of solar lights, with a total cost of P249 million.
The twelve bridges that have undergone repair this year are Bayo Bridge, Pagbabangnan Bridge, Limlim Bridge, Malobago Bridge, Taft Bridge, Sulat Bridge along Wright-Taft-Borongan Road; Macabut Bridge, Suribao Bridge, Can-obing Bridge, Llorente Bridge along Borongan-Guiuan Road; Oras Bridge along Jct. Buenavista-Lawaan-Marabut Rd; and Binacalan Bridge along Jct. Buenavista-Lawaan-Marabut Road.
DE Ignacio added that most bridge repairs are already completed. At the same time, some are still ongoing, especially those redecking works on Pagbabangnan Bridge, Macabut Bridge, Taft Bridge, Sulat Bridge, and Can-obing Bridge, which will take time for the curing of the concrete to attain the required strength.
Also, DE Ignacio instructed all the project engineers to fast-track the construction of these bridge repairs and to give their best effort to complete this before the end of the year to avoid further inconvenience to the motorists to utilize said bridges fully.
Meanwhile, DPWH Eastern Samar already repaired 18 bridges in 2021, amounting to P108 million, and 11 bridges in 2022, amounting to P111 million.
DPWH Eastern Samar District Engineering Office is now conducting its annual bridge condition survey, and the result will be the basis for the funding proposal for the coming years for the rehabilitation and retrofitting of national bridges.
(JAYSON ESPEJO/PR)
