NAVAL, Biliran-Engr. Edgar B. Tabacon, Regional Director of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Region VIII conducted an inspection of the Caraycaray Bridge with Engr. David P. Adongay Jr., District Engineer and Engr. Alfredo L. Bollido, Assistant District Engineer of Biliran District Engineering Office (BDEO) on March 2 to assess the status of the said bridge.
After tropical storm ‘Urduja’, the Biliran District Engineering Office exerted an effort to restore the Caraycaray Bridge within the 30-day timeline set by DPWH Secretary Mark Villar.
Both approaches of the CarayCaray bridge undergone backfilling and embankment to serve as a temporary passage for the public. It was opened to traffic for motorcycles and tricycles on January 9, 2018 and to light vehicles on January 11, 2018.
During the inspection of Director Tabacon, the approaches of Caraycaray Bridge is undergoing riprapping works to ensure that the remaining structures can still sustain another flooding while waiting for the construction of the new bridge.
The construction for the new Caraycaray Bridge is already under Preliminary and Detailed Engineering (PDE) stage undertaken by the DPWH Regional Office thru consultancy.
The approaches of the said bridge were severely damaged during the onslaught of Urduja last December, 2017.
BDEO has still deployed maintenance personnel under Engr. Glenda G. Dagalea, acting chief in the Maintenance Section to man the traffic in Caraycaray Bridge as it is limited only to 4-wheels and light vehicles.
Heavy vehicles are advised to take the alternate long route Naval-Almeria-Kawayan-Culaba-Caibiran-Cabucgayan road and vice versa. (CHELSEA QUIJANO-SALLOMAN/PR)