Asphalting work on Fernan bridge starts Monday

WITH the asphalting work at the first Mandaue Mactan bridge already done, work now shifts to the Marcelo Fernan Bridge.

Engineer Renault Ricardo of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said the asphalting overlay of the Marcelo Fernan bridge would start on Monday, March 18.

Work will be done from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.

Ricardo said that the lane from Lapu-Lapu going to Mandaue would be the first to be rehabilitated on the second bridge.

Ricardo said for the first bridge the DPWH would start its thermo-plastic pavement markings also next week.

The markings will guide motorists passing along the bridge and prevent accidents. Rubber finders at piers 7 and 8 below the bridge will also be replaced.

Ricardo said that rubber finders would protect the concrete piers from any more damage.

metal railings

Ricardo said that the metal railings of the two bridges were still strong enough to hold vehicles from falling off the bridge.

But if the impact would be too much then the railings couldn’t prevent the vehicle from falling off like the dump truck which got its wheel axle detached, slammed on the railings, and fell off the Marcelo B. Fernan Bridge last month.

“Ang impact unta ana kay muhinay man unta na kay napa gud sidewalks dinha pero kung dagko kaayo ang ligid mao to ang nahitabo sa dump truck (The sidewalk could have slowed the impact but then it was a big truck),” he said.

The DPWH office were already contacted following the filing of charges of reckless imprudence resulting to damage of properties.

Ricardo said that the owner needs to pay more than P700,000.

“Dili na ordinaryo nga metal dinha kay lig on na siya. Ang maka accidente dinha kay mao jud ang maka bayad (It’s not an ordinary metal and it’s strong. So if an accident could damage those railings, then they would have to pay),” he said./Reporter Jucell Marie P. Cuyos