DPWH allays fears of ‘gap’ in Cebu’s South Coastal Road

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama FILE PHOTO

CEBU CITY—Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama ordered the temporary closure of the tunnel and the South Coastal Road, the city’s gateway to south of Cebu, on Wednesday morning after officials found a “gap” on the joints of the viaduct which connects the tunnel and the coastal road.

City Councilor Dave Tumulak said the gap reached four to five inches, more than the allowable level, following the devastating earthquake that hit Cebu and Bohol islands.

Officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways in Central Visayas (DPWH-7) led by its assistant regional director Juby Cordon  inspected the viaduct at 8 a.m.

Engineer Nonato Paylado of DPWH 7’s design section explained that the viaduct was designed to have a gap at the expansion joints that connects the bridge to the road at the end and the tunnel at the other to accommodate longitudinal movements.

He said a gap would always be found on the viaducts joint because of vehicular load and that the gap of about 20mm or an inch long was still tolerable.

He added that the four to five inch-gap found on the joints was only 25 percent of the allowable level. “There is no need to be alarmed because it is still structurally safe for vehicles to pass by the viaduct,” said Paylado.

DPWH engineers visited city hall to report their observations to Rama who ordered the tunnel and coastal road closure order lifted.

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