Fernan Bridge repairs start today

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Public Works and Highways-7 is asking the public especially those who will be passing the Marcelo Fernan Bridge to be more patient and understanding as the repair will begin today until August 30, 2012.

Santiago Suico Jr., district engineer of DPWH-Cebu Sixth Engineering District Office said yesterday that they expect some congestion to occur considering that one lane (from Lapu-Lapu City to Mandaue) beside the sidewalk of the four-lane bridge will be entirely closed from June 4 to 17.

"Of course, we expect traffic. But not really a heavy traffic because the three other lanes will still be open for motorists," Suico said.

Suico also said that both local government units of Mandaue City and Lapu-Lapu City will issue their respective traffic advisories from time to time to ensure the smooth flow of traffic.

DPWH will repair 16 of the 18 expansion joints of the bridge. The repair will cost at least P25 million to P30 million.

For the phase 2 of the repair, the inner lane from Lapu-Lapu City to Mandaue City will commence on June 18 to July 1.

For the phase 3, the right Lane from Mandaue City to Lapu-Lapu City will be repaired beginning July 2 to 19.

For phase 4, the left lane from Mandaue City to Lapu-Lapu City will be repaired on July 20 to August 2.

For phase 5, on August 3 to 16, the right Lane at viaduct Lapu-Lapu City side will undergo repair.

For the sixth and final phase, the left lane at viaduct Lapu-Lapu City side shall undergo repair on August 17 to 30.

"But we hope we can finish the project earlier that scheduled," Suico said.

 The bridge is an extra-dosed cable-stayed bridge with a total length of 1,237 meters (4058.40 feet) with a center span of 185 meters (606.96 feet).

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

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.

It was built to decongest the traffic problem of vehicles traveling from Mandaue City to Lapu-Lapu City and as a symbol of friendship between the two countries. — (FREEMAN)