Poorly constructed: Bridge sags in Nueva Ecija town

THIS BRIDGE IS FALLING DOWN This old bridge in San Jose City, Nueva Ecija province, has sagged and cracked, but the danger has not stopped light vehicles from using it. Its bad state has set off urgent calls for the Department of Public Works and Highways to repair the bridge as soon as possible. —ARMAND GALANG

SAN JOSE CITY — Motorists have been using an old bridge in this city to gain access to 10 villages, three Nueva Ecija towns and Aurora province even as it began to sag following weeks of bad weather.

The city engineering office has restricted the use of the bridge to light vehicles after motorists discovered cracks and lanes that were almost detached on the 280-meter bridge.

The city government of San Jose has been waiting for the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to complete a P100-million replacement bridge, but the project has been stalled.

Motorists still using the bridge reported it straining during excessive downpour, Mayor Mario Salvador said.

“This was just monsoon. What more when we get a real storm,” Salvador said.

Unfinished replacement

The mayor has petitioned Public Works Secretary Mark Villar to fast-track the construction of the replacement bridge which was started in October 2015, but was not finished.

Metal components piled at the construction site have accumulated rust. Details of the project were unavailable because no project billboards were displayed.

George Santos, chief of the province’s first engineering district, said his office could not provide any information about the project which was being implemented by the DPWH central office. —Armand Galang