Overloaded trucks to be rerouted from new Bulacan roads, bridges

CITY OF MALOLOS, Bulacan, Philippines — Administrators of newly constructed roads and bridges in Bulacan province have been tasked with rerouting heavy trucks carrying more than 20 tons, due to complaints that provincial roads used as shipping lanes have worn out faster.

Residents have been calling the province as “lubakan” for its damaged roads, Gov. Daniel Fernando said during the inauguration of the P283-million Gen. Alejo Santos Bridge in Bustos town last week.

DPWH asked

Fernando asked the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the local governments to set up weighing machines on the new bridge and other major roads to prevent overloaded trucks from driving through them.

The bridge, which links Bustos to Baliwag town, had been closed for three years after it collapsed in 2017. It was built in 1968 and had a load limit of 13 tons per axel, according to Arvin Sangalang of the DPWH office in Central Luzon.

Avoiding traffic

Trucks loaded with sand and rocks often traverse the 350-meter-long bridge and other roads like the Plaridel Bypass Road, which was built in 2012, Sangalang said.

Weight stationsThey take these routes to avoid traffic along the North Luzon Expressway where overloaded vehicles are banned.

Vehicular weight stations, jointly manned by the DPWH personnel and the police, are in place on these roads. Sections of the flood-prone Maharlika Highway in Marilao town as well as roads in the City of Meycauayan are being rehabilitated by the DPWH second district engineering office.