Tuesday, January 29, 2008 Town implements bridge project
DESPITE opposition from some residents, the San Luis municipal government and the public works department have commenced with the construction of a new bridge that would replace the existing one in Barangay Sto. Tomas.
Prior to its actual construction last October 23, a number of residents complained that the construction of the bridge would affect their houses and business offices. The project has already caused the relocation of five families.
Former San Luis mayor Narciso Salas, a vocal critic of the project, said he is still apprehensive of the project, although the arrangements have already been done. "The safety and the welfare of the common citizens are being sacrificed," he said.
The new bridge will be covering two points; each end point is to cover areas that will require spaces already occupied by business offices.
With the help of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) regional office, the Municipal Government had implemented the project and allocated P120 million for the construction of the bridge that will replace the old one put up way back during the Magsaysay administration.
Heavy trucks with cement and other construction products often pass on the old bridge, making it weaker through the years. Although there has been an edict that prohibits vehicles weighing more than five tons from passing on the old bridge, it was not strictly followed.
Salas and Dante Regio, supervising engineer of the project, have attested that the local government lacks the proper execution of the law "as to what type of transport vehicles should they allow to pass on the old bridge," thus there has been a need for repairs, and now, replacement. "The problem is, no one from the local government controls the passage of the vehicles," they added.
The bridge is set to be completed within a few months. "We hope to finish the bridge by April 2008," Regio added. (CFJ/SC/CEU Interns)
