Fernan Bridge set for repairs

CEBU, Philippines - Motorists and commuters heading to and from Lapu-Lapu will have to expect some delay in their travel with the Department of Public Works and Highways-7 set to do some major repairs on the Marcelo Fernan Bridge.

The repair work will start on May 2 and will run for 150 days.

Officials of Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu City are working double-time in order to minimize the impact of the repair work on the flow of traffic.

Engr. Santiago Suico, Jr., district engineer of DPWH-Cebu Sixth Engineering District Office told The Freeman yesterday that the bridge will not be totally closed for the entire duration of the repair work.

“Dili gyud totally masirad-an ang bridge kay phase by phase man ang pag implement ani. Although we can expect nga mu traffic gyud,” (We won’t be closing the bridge as implementation will be done by phase. Although we can expect that there would be traffic) Suico said.

Traffic Bodies

Frank Brazil, head of the City Traffic Management System of Lapu-Lapu City said that traffic congestion is expected especially on their side.

Chief Inspector Edwin Ermac, head of the Traffic Enforcement and Management of Mandaue City said that they only expect heavy traffic on Plaridel St. (from Mandaue District Hospital to Cansaga bridge) but not on U.N. Avenue.

Ermac said that there are fewer vehicles, which use the Marcelo Fernan Bridge compared to the Mactan-Mandaue Bridge.

But nevertheless, Roger Paller, information officer of Mandaue City, said that they will be deploying traffic enforcers, 24/7 in anticipation of the heavy flow of traffic.

Paller said that signs will be provided by the contractor — PLD Construction.

DPWH-7, however, in a media advisory stated that it is expected that the normal flow of traffic will be disrupted when repair works commence next month.

The department is hoping for the outmost understanding and consideration especially those that will be affected such as establishments within the airport including the airlines.

Suico added that the repair work should be made in order to ensure the safety of those who use the bridge.

“Wa sad hinu-on nagpasabot nga mahugno na ang bridge. Nanglu-ag na lang gyud ang iyang expansion joints perhaps due to wear and tear kay dugay-dugay na sad ang bridge,” (It does not mean that the bridge is going to collapse. The expansion joints have just loosened perhaps due to wear and tear as the bridge has been there for some time) Suico added.

The Bridge

The Marcelo Fernan Bridge is an extradosed cable-stayed bridge with a total length of 1,237 meters and a center span of 185 meters.

It is one of the widest and longest bridge spans in the Philippines and one of the longest cable-stayed bridges in the world.

It was inaugurated by President Joseph Estrada on August 3, 1999.

This P2.3 billion structure was constructed by the Kajima-Sumimoto Joint Venture and was funded through a loan obtained by the Philippine Government from the Overseas Economic Cooperation Fund of Japan.

The gigantic infrastructure was built in order to decongest the traffic problem of vehicles traveling from Mandaue City to Lapu-Lapu City.

The bridge is maintained by the DPWH and the cost of the repair work is pegged at P13 million which is part of DPWH’s projects that were programmed for 2012 costing P125.5 billion.

DPWH is allotted a total of P125.5 billion under the General Appropriations Act, an increase by 13.5 percent from its 2011 budget of P110.6 billion. DPWH remains second in terms of budgetary allocation behind the Department of Education.

According to DPWH,  P29.7 billion will be spent for the rehabilitation and maintenance of national roads and bridges, P15.9 billion for the upgrading and paving of 809 km of national roads, and P38.5 billion to construct 6,229 km of new roads and 15,292 linear meters of new bridges.— (FREEMAN)