PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III will inaugurate on Tuesday the P772.9-million Lullutan Bridge in Ilagan City that will connect Isabela and the Cagayan Valley region.
The 500.6-lineal meter Lullutan Bridge is considered one of the longest bridges to cross Cagayan River, connecting Barangay Camalagui 1 and Barangay Lullutan of Ilagan City, Isabela in Cagayan Valley.
Prior to the construction of the Lullutan Bridge, both barangays were linked by a spillway bridge, which was destroyed by floods during a typhoon, back in 1995.
With no infrastructure connecting those barangays, residents have been using barges to transport their agricultural products to markets in Ilagan City.
The Lullutan Bridge, with a loading capacity of 20 tons, is made of 14-span structural steel girders with reinforced concrete slab supported by 13 piers, with two concrete column pedestals resting on group bored pile foundation. It also features Portland Cement Concrete Pavement approaches, measuring 1.175 kilometers.
The bridge was completed last January 21 under Package II-A of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
It is among the bridge projects of the Urgent Bridges Construction Project for Rural Development being implemented by the DPWH Unified Project Management Office-Bridges Management Cluster.
Officials expect the bridge to open up new opportunities for Isabela, particularly its agricultural sector.
To accompany the President during Tuesday's event are Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson, Isabela Governor Faustino Dy III, Isabela Representative Rodolfo Albano III, and Ilagan City Mayor Jose Marie Diaz. (SDR/Sunnex)