DPWH-7: Bridge repairs to finish ahead of target

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Public Works and Highways has assured that the repairs and rehabilitation of the Mandaue-Mactan Bridge that cause monstrous traffic in Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu are expected to be completed earlier than scheduled.

"The repair of the bridge will be finished much earlier than our target date," said DPWH-7 director Ador Canlas.

He, however, could not give the exact date to complete the project. The bridge repair is expected to be done by August 29. Its original date of completion was on December 23.

    Canlas said the local government units of Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu are already addressing the traffic congestion caused by the bridge repair. He said traffic congestion is inevitable because of the repair.

"Syempre the bridge is under repair nga, kaya may traffic" said Canlas.

 The lane going to Lapu-Lapu City is closed from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. since April 2 to give way to the repair and rehabilitation. The repair started in February but was suspended by DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson until after the classes ended because of several complaints from the commuters.

DPWH is undertaking repairs and rehabilitation of the bridge because of the cracks found by safety engineers. It was also discovered that some of the steel bars are already exposed.

The scope of works includes the removal of damaged deck slab and asphalt, reinforcing steel bars, epoxy coating on cracks, water proofing on deck slab and sidewalk, epoxy injection on concrete cracks, special anti-corrosion paint, replacement of expansion joint and replacement of drain pipes.

The repairs have been causing traffic problem in Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu for the past five days.

Lapu-lapu City Traffic Management System chief Frank Brazil said the elevated expansion joints on the right lane is causing traffic because it has formed a three to four inches hump causing vehicles to slowdown.

"Ang sakyanan inig-abot sa expansion joints mo slowdown gyud. Dili maka-accelerate ang mga sakyanan maong maka-build-up og traffic," Brazil said.

Brazil said they are putting up ramps close to the expansion joints to address the problem.

"Para inigdagan sa mga sakyanan diritso na," Brazil said.

He explained that the Marcelo Fernan Bridge was affected in the traffic congestion because of the insufficient 109 seconds allocated for the traffic light on U.N. Avenue for all incoming vehicles from Lapu-Lapu.

 "Ang volume sa traffic dili kaya habwaon sa number of seconds nga ilang gihatag," Brazil said.

Glenn Antigua, head of the Traffic Enforcement Agency in Mandaue, said they are open to adjusting the 109 seconds depending on the volume of traffic.

CTMS and TEAM have already agreed to disallow left turns going to the first bridge and direct the vehicles instead to Maxilom V. Patalinjug Avenue.

Perla Amar, head of the City Planning and Development Office of Lapu-Lapu City, said all vehicles from MVP will go straight to the first bridge and vehicles from the public market will take a right turn before the bridge and U-turn in Sangi intersection straight to Pajo where they have two options; to go straight to the bridge via MVP or use Manuel L. Quezon Highway and take a U-turn near PLDT.

Another proposal is for all vehicles from Mandaue going to the airport to use the second bridge. The suggestions are expected to be implemented next week. —Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon, Christell Fatima M. Tudtud and Ermida Q. Moradas (FREEMAN)