Easier travel to north Luzon promised

Because of the holiday rush, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) reopened to light vehicles a weakened bridge linking Bulacan and Pampanga, and eased repairs of roads traversing Cagayan Valley to speed up holiday traffic in these regions.

Calumpit Bridge was ordered closed on Dec. 15 for emergency repairs after engineers confirmed that the 66-year-old structure had weakened. It was opened to light vehicles on Thursday.

Ruel Angeles, Bulacan officer in charge of the DPWH first district engineering office, said only remedial work had been applied on the bridge so it may not hold the weight of cargo trucks.

Aside from its age, Calumpit Bridge was worn out by cargo trucks crossing through this alternate route to Pampanga to avoid the toll imposed by the North Luzon Expressway as well as agencies stationed at the freeway to monitor compliance to overloading regulations, Angeles said.

Calumpit Mayor James de Jesus appointed a watchman to make sure only light vehicles pass through the bridge.

According to Angeles, the repair and modernization of Calumpit Bridge  is expected to take place in March and April next year for a six-month work duration once the project undergoes bidding. The bridge would be widened into four lanes.

Tuguegarao

In Tuguegarao City, Reynaldo Tamayo, DPWH Cagayan director, said the department’s field offices have put in place measures which they hope would spare motorists from delays during the holiday rush.

“We are suspending all activities and open all major roads to avoid delays for travelers who want to be home for Christmas,” he said.

The agency has been under heavy criticism for road construction projects that have left travelers stranded for as long as 18 hours along the zigzag road in Santa Fe town in Nueva Vizcaya.

Traffic flow slows down to a halt for hours there because vehicles, usually trailer trucks, are frequently caught along the tight bends of roads undergoing repairs. Traffic moves through only one lane of these roads.

“That road near Dalton Pass has really been causing problems for us. Hopefully, with the road advisories that we are putting in place and an improved traffic management system, there will be no more delays for those who are coming (to Cagayan Valley) this Christmas,” Tamayo said.

Road projects that require fresh concreting are being undertaken on portions of the national road in Cordon, Ramon and Quezon towns in Isabela, as well as in Enrile and Tuguegarao in Cagayan.

The damaged Tungcab Bridge in Maddela town in Quirino is open only to light vehicles. Tamayo said Dalton Pass and other road repair areas will still offer one-lane stretches to motorists because the contractors cannot be compelled to open both lanes to accommodate the expected rush of vehicle traffic. Carmela Reyes-Estrope, Inquirer Central Luzon, and Melvin Gascon, Inquirer Northern Luzon