THE over seven decades-old Gov. Generoso Bridge 1 (Southbound) in Bankerohan in Davao City will be closed to vehicular traffic for a week as it will undergo major repair.
The Department of Public Works and Highways Davao (DPWH-11) said the closure of the bridge (also known as the Bankerohan Bridge) going to Matina started on Sunday, September 1 from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. the following day.
The Bridge 2 (Northbound) will be open as a two-way road while the construction is ongoing.
DPWH 11 officer-in-charge district engineer Richard A. Ragasa said the bridge was originally intended to be partially closed but the City Transport and Traffic Management Office (CTTMO) suggested to have it fully closed to fast track the repair.
"Mas maganda kung i-close talaga ang tulay para makapagtrabaho tayo ng maayos (It ould be best to have the bridge fully closed so that we can work on it uninterruptedly)," Ragasa told Sunstar Davao on Monday, September 2, 2019.
He said the whole repair project, which cost around P7 million, will end until September 26 as they will be having a waterproofing work during the one-week closure.
He said waterproofing of bridge decks is widely necessary to provide a defense barrier against contaminants which include water, road de-icing salts, and aggressive chemicals which could corrode the steel of the reinforcing bar within the concrete.
Ragasa also said they will be conducting asphalt overlaying from 10 p.m. of September 21 to 12 midnight of the following day, adding that Bridge 2 will still be used as an alternate route.
He added that other scope of work would include thermoplastic pavement markings (road mark painting) and painting of bridge railing.
"With the allotted schedule, we are sure that it won't add up to the volume of the vehicular traffic because the scheduled work is no longer rush hours," Ragasa said.
The bridge was constructed more than 70 years ago.
"Need talaga i-rehab ang tulay. Masyado na kasing luma yung tulay. Need patibayin para lalo tumagal ang lifespan ng structure natin (There is a need to rehabilitate the bridge because it is very old. There is a need to strengthen its structure to extend its lifespan)," Ragasa said adding the public should not be worried because the bridge is still on its normal status.
Meanwhile, he said DPWH has yet to study the recommendation of rehabilitating Bridge 2, adding however, that it is not included in the agency's priority project next year.
Ragasa also said the agency is not considering adding another lane for both bridges because the ongoing coastal road project, also funded by DPWH, will decongest the traffic volume of the bridge.
Meanwhile, CTTMO head Dionisio Abude advised motorists to take alternate routes and avoid passing the bridge during peak hours.