2nd bridge will also be constructed
TACLOBAN CITY – Rehabilitation of the iconic San Juanico Bridge will begin once its retrofitting design is submitted by June 5, according to Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan.
During his May 30 visit to Tacloban City, Bonoan said only remedial repairs will be implemented initially to increase the bridge’s load capacity to 12 tons, pending the construction of a proposed second bridge.
“We are giving the consultant until June 5 to submit the retrofitting design, which will be used as the basis to begin the bridge’s repair works,” Bonoan said, adding that he instructed the consultant to expedite the process.
“Our goal is to increase the bridge’s load capacity to 12 tons. This would help ease traffic congestion caused by the current load limit,” he added.
“I have instructions from the President to act on the traffic issues brought about by these restrictions.”
Currently, trucks over 3 tons are prohibited from crossing the 2.16-kilometer bridge linking Leyte and Samar due to safety concerns.
To ease the disruption, DPWH has designated the Amandayehan Port in Basey, Samar as a temporary loading point for rerouting heavy vehicles via roll-on/roll-off transport to Tacloban City.
The P2.1-billion retrofitting will cover all 42 bridge spans, while a full rehabilitation, projected at P5.68 billion, will follow once the new bridge is underway. That upgrade is expected to boost the load limit to 33 tons.
About 1,400 heavy trucks use the bridge daily.
Bonoan also revealed plans for a second San Juanico Bridge, a 2.6-kilometer structure to be funded by the Japanese government.
It will connect Babatngon, Leyte to Sta. Rita, Samar via the Janbatas Channel. Detailed engineering will be completed in 2026, with construction slated for 2027.
To manage traffic and port congestion, the provincial governments of Leyte and Samar are also identifying alternative ports, including Catbalogan City and the towns of Babatngon, Carigara, and Palompon.
These sites are under review by the Philippine Ports Authority.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA, JOEY A. GABIETA)
