13 Leyte bridges up for repair, widening

TACLOBAN CITY, Jan. 25  -- Thirteen bridges up for widening, strengthening and repair with a cost of PHP254.22 million are lined up for this year by Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in central Leyte province.

The continuous widening and strengthening of bridges has been identified by the DPWH 2nd Leyte engineering district as its top priority considering that some of these are there for decades and need immediate rehabilitation to be more resilient to the changing climate and extreme weather conditions.

Hibucawan Bridge and Cabungaan Bridge in Jaro town; Lemon Bridge, Masalago Bridge, Pinamopoan Bridge, Atipolo Bridge, Candulman Bridge and Domiri Bridge in Capoocan; Jugaban Bridge in Carigara; Talisayan Bridge along Daang Maharlika are included in the widening projects.

These projects run a total of 178.55 linear meters.

These bridges also run along the busy Palo-Carigara-Ormoc road and are being widened to complement the ongoing road widening along this route.

Once completed, the widened bridges will provide a safe and convenient travel to the public plying this major thoroughfare.

Meanwhile, the Cabayongan Bridge along the Jaro-Dagami road and the Jugaban Bridge along the Barugo-Carigara road are lined up for retrofitting and strengthening at a cost of PHP33 million.

The two bridges will run a total length of 117.45 linear meters.

The Carigara Bridge in Carigara town, on the other hand, continues its repair works with a budget of PHP45 million this year. It is more or less 121.35 linear meters.

District Engineer Carlos Veloso thanked DPWH Secretary Mark Villar for the department’s support to construction of the vital bridges in Leyte’s second district. The widening project is part of the district’s DPWH multi-year program. (ACR/PNA)