DAGUPAN CITY -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Monday led the inauguration of the rehabilitated portion of the Bued bridge in Sison town, a vital thoroughfare between the provinces of Pangasinan and La Union.
With Arroyo at the inaugural drive thru were Pangasinan officials lead by Governor Amado Espino Jr., and Fifth District Representative Mark Cojuangco; La Union Second District Representative Tomas Dumpit Jr.; and Public Works and Highways Secretary Victor Domingo.
In her speech during the program, Arroyo congratulated Pangasinan and La Union officials, as well as, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for giving their all-out support on project.
The Bued bridge is located at the boundary of Sison (Pangasinan) and Rosario (La Union) municipalities.
Three spans of the bridge mid portion sank when its base were scoured by rampaging water in October 9, 2009 during the onslaught of Typhoon Pepeng.
From the report presented by the DPWH, reconstruction work started on January 4, 2010 and was completed on June 13, 2010. The estimated cost of the project is P120,367,434.
This was implemented under the President’s Bridge Program Office, in collaboration with DPWH Region 1 and Third District Engineering Office of Pangasinan.
As described, the mitigating works which also include the adjoining piers will prevent damage to the rest members of the structure not previously affected by the past typhoons.
The length of bridge restored is 107.25 linear meters out of the 525 linear meters total bridge length.
The restoration works done was for the “total replacement of damaged 3-span superstructure and provision of its support with 2-2.80 meter diameter concrete bored piles for piers 5 and 6.
Construction worker Bartolome Cabral thanked the President for the job opportunity created through the project.
Arroyo also said that the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway Project (TPLEX) will open more employment opportunities for construction workers like Cabral.
Furniture/handicraft maker Janet Budah likewise thanked her for the immediate restoration of the damaged bridge.
Handicraft workers from La Union and Baguio City use the vital infrastructure in transporting their products to Manila and other parts in Luzon.