ANTIQUE – Good news. The bailey bridge that connects Laua-an town in the north and Bugasong town in the south of Antique province is now passable to light vehicles.
The temporary bridge was installed in lieu of the 48-year-old Paliwan bridge, which collapsed during the onslaught of Severe Tropical Storm “Paeng” in October 2022.
According to Cong. Antonio Agapito Legarda Jr., the bailey bridge has a capacity for vehicles of 15 tons and below and a length of less than 85 meters.
“I am delighted to tell you that our bailey bridge in Paliwan has been passable beginning Friday afternoon, Oct. 6,” said Legarda.
Meanwhile, trucks and other large vehicles were advised to use the roadway embankment near the Paliwan bridge. But during heavy rains, the temporary access road is often rendered impassable.
Among the on-going construction activities at the Paliwan bridge were:
* fabrication of steel reinforcement for concrete pile cast in drilled holes
* fabrication of steel reinforcement for the girder
* fabrication of 20 mm diameter ties
* welding of additional casing
* crane way embankment
To recall, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., during his visit on Friday, urged the Department of Public Works and Highways (DWPH) Region 6 to expedite the rehabilitation of the Paliwan bridge for efficient delivery of government services.
“Madaliin ngunit dapat tiyakin din yong matibay at hindi substandard ang pagkagagwa,” he said. “Ang epektibo at mabisang pangangasiwa sa daloy ng produkto at serbisyo mula sa sakahan patungo sa merkado ay isa sa mga dapat natin matugunan.”/PN
