Sibonga steel bridge opens

THE temporary steel bridge in Dumlog, Sibonga will be opened to traffic today, said Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) 7 Director Ador Canlas.

It will be a two-lane bridge that has a capacity of up to 20 metric tons.

This means that buses and other public vehicles going to the southern towns can now take the normal route.

Engr. Elvis Calunod, chief of the DPWH 7 maintenance division, said they will open the bridge at 3 p.m.

Last Dec. 30, the 18-meter approach of the Dumlog bridge collapsed after flash floods caused by tropical storm Seniang.

The bridge connects Argao and Sibonga towns.

The steel bridge will be 59.076 meters long. It’s approach will be 35-meter on both ends.

DPWH, earlier, promised to finish the temporary link before the Sinulog Grand Parade.

“We are still on target,” Canlas said.

He said they were just doing some “corrections” on the approaches yesterday.

Inspection

In a separate interview, Calunod said they tightened the volts and checked the steel components under the bridge as their final works.

He said the steel decks were fully installed at 3 a.m. Wednesday.

The steel decks are placed to allow vehicles to pass the bridge.

DPWH heavy equipment, like backhoe, was able to pass the steel bridge.

“Nakuha nato ang target gumikan sa inyong suporta (We reached our target because of everyone’s support),” Calunod said.

He said the signage will be placed on the right side of the road going to the south and going to Cebu City.

These signage will indicate the bridge capacity and will let the drivers and commuters know that a steel bridge is ahead.

The temporary link will be opened to all types of vehicles, said Calunod.

The steel bridge will be temporarily used while DPWH 7 is still waiting for the funds from the Central Office for the repair of the Dumlog bridge.

The DPWH spent P5.59 million for the installation of a temporary link. The funds came from the DPWH’s Quick Response Fund for 2014.

Budget

The DPWH 7 needs P31.3 million to rehabilitate the Dumlog bridge.

Instead of repairing the approach, a 21-meter bridge will be built and connected to the existing 15-meter span of Dumlog bridge.

Meanwhile, Engineer Jocelyn Orcullo, maintenance chief of Cebu’s Fourth Engineering DBbridge in Barangay Sto. Niño, Malabuyoc from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Beyond those hours, they will be grounded until the next day.

Orcullo said DPWH 4th Engineering District Head James Dellosa instructed them that vehicles can only pass Saliring Bidge during daytime.

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