Temporary bridge in Sibonga town targeted for completion before Jan. 19

Source: Cebu Provincial Government

The Department of Public Works and Highways in Central Visayas (DPWH-7) will start building a temporary steel bridge in barangay Dumlog, Sibonga town tomorrow.

“We are trying our best to finish this quickly. Again, we will have to complete this before the Sinulog celebration (on January 19),” said DPWH Regional  Ador Canlas  at yesterday’s 888 News Forum.

The steel bridge components were shipped from Cagayan de Oro with the minor parts from Morong, Bataan, he said.

Canlas said he inspected the damaged bridge in Dumlog with DPWH 1st  Dist. Engineer Nicomedes Leonor yesterday.

They were instructed by DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson to finish  repairs in national roads and bridges in their area in 15 days.

Leonor said workers on site  started assembling the beams for the  pre-fabricated steel bridge which can accommodate 10 to 15 tons.

DWPH-7 will spend P6 million for the temporary bridge from the Quick Response Fund.

Canlas said the temporary bridge will have a 35-meter approach on both sides, two lanes and will be elevated by two meters from the Dumlog bridge.

As a precaution, Canlas warned motorists to avoid abrupt braking because the floor boards of steel bridges are more slippery than concrete.

Detour
“We need help in informing bus and truck operators that slow driving is necessary when passing,” he said.

Canlas said work on the permanent concrete bridge to replace the damaged Dumlog bridge approach will begin once funds from this year’s national budget is released.

He said the General Appropriations Act (GAA) of 2015 is expected to take effect within the second or third week of this month.

The permanent concrete bridge, estimated to cost P30 to P32 million, spans 21 meters long to cover the 18-meter gap caused by typhoon Seniang. It will take three to four months to build.

Diversion road
“The temporary steel bridge will become a detour while we are constructing the permanent one,” Canlas said.

In the meantime, light vehicles  can take a diversion road in barangay Bagacay.

Larger vehicles, like cargo buses and dump trucks, may pass through the barangay road in sitio Lindogon, from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m., to reach barangay Simala.

Sibonga Mayor Lionel Bacaltos earlier said most truck drivers find it difficult driving up the sloping road, causing traffic and inconveniencing travelers.

The Cebu provincial government asked for two trucks from the Armed Forces to help haul vehicles that may get stuck along the way.

Bacaltos said one rescue truck will be placed in barangay Bagacay and the other one in sitio Lindogon. Residents in the area built a two-meter wide, 15 meter long footbridge made of coco lumber.

Leonor said they asked the Sibonga municipal government to deploy police in the area to stop residents from collecting a P5 fee from commuters who pass through the makeshift bridge.

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