DPWH, M’daue and Lapu cities coordinate for bridge repair

CONTRARY to reports, the Department of Public Works and Highways said they are coordinating with the Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu city governments in the repair of the the Marcelo Fernan Bridge that starts next week, Engr. Santiago Suico, OIC district engineer of the Cebu 6th district engineering office of the DPWH, said they already discussed the traffic management with the cities to minimize the impact of the repair works to the riding public.

He said his office wrote the respective traffic management offices of the two cities a month ago and held meetings with them.

Suico said repair works will start on one side of the bridge, where it will be closed to traffic, while the other side will be utilized for a two-way traffic.

Suico said the repair works will focus on the expansion joints of the bridge to avoid accidents.

He said based on statistics, most motorcycle accidents in the bridge were caused by the damaged expansion joints.

The national government appropriated P25 million for the project.

Suico said PLD Construction won the bidding and the firm will have to work 24/7 to complete the project.

Suico said the project will last for 150 calendar days or around five months if there will be no delays.

The 1.2-kilometer bridge was built by the Kajima Sumimoto Joint Venture that amounted to P2.3 billion.

It was funded through the loan obtained by the national government from the Overseas Economic Cooperation Fund of Japan. /Correspondent Jhunnex Napallacan