ILOILO – Continued passage of overloaded trucks across the structurally damaged Jalaur Bridge in Leganes, Iloilo, has raised fears of further deterioration and prolonged repairs, prompting the Provincial Board to renew its call for strict enforcement of the five-ton vehicle weight restriction.
The Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) reiterated the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Region 6 advisory after 4th District Board Member Rolando Distura reported that heavy and oversized vehicles continued to cross the bridge despite warning signs and height-restriction gantries installed at its approaches.
Persistent violations could aggravate existing structural damage to the Monfort-Vigilar Jalaur Bridge along the Iloilo City–Leganes–Dumangas Coastal Road in Barangay Nabitasan, Leganes.
Distura said he had personally observed numerous trucks using the bridge despite the restriction, raising concerns about motorists’ safety and the integrity of the structure undergoing major rehabilitation.
There’s movement and settlement of the transition slabs at the bridge approaches whenever large trucks passed; continued heavy traffic could worsen the damage and delay the completion of repair and retrofitting works.
The bridge is undergoing major repairs following the discovery of significant structural damage, with the rehabilitation expected to take approximately 180 days, or six months.
“The Monfort-Vigilar Jalaur Bridge along the Leganes–Dumangas Coastal Road in Barangay Nabitasan, Leganes, Iloilo, is temporarily restricting vehicles weighing 5 tons or more while repair works are ongoing. Truck drivers and operators of heavy vehicles are advised to use alternative routes to avoid delays and help prevent accidents while the restriction remains in effect,” the Provincial Board reiterated.
CALL FOR STRICTER ENFORCEMENT
DPWH-6 has been urged to coordinate with the Leganes municipal government and other concerned authorities to deploy traffic enforcers near the bridge and ensure compliance with the load restriction.
Warning signs and physical barriers had failed to prevent some truck drivers from crossing the damaged structure.
Distura stressed the need for stronger enforcement to protect motorists, prevent further structural deterioration and avoid unnecessary delays in the rehabilitation project.
Drivers of heavy vehicles bound for Dumangas Port are being urged to use the old Iloilo East Coast Road through Leganes, Zarraga, Bangga Bante and Balabag instead of crossing the restricted bridge.
DPWH-6 initially issued its public advisory on September 29, announcing the temporary restriction on vehicles weighing five tons or more because of significant structural damage to the Jalaur Bridge.
“The restriction will remain in effect until the completion of the major repair works, which are currently on-going,” the DPWH-6 advisory stated.
The agency urged motorists to follow designated alternative routes based on their origins and destinations, observe traffic signs and comply with instructions from traffic personnel./PN
