‘Tullahan Bridge seriously damaged’

The busy Tullahan Bridge on McArthur Highway is now "seriously damaged" according to a Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) warning to passing motorists.

The DPWH issued the advisory as it installs temporary support on the aging bridge that has been condemned due to its poor condition. The problem is, it will not be closed to traffic until next year when a better weather condition comes.

Tullahan Bridge links the Valenzuela and Malabon portion of McArthur Highway, which serves as an alternative route to the usually congested North Expressway. Heavy trucks are common in the area.

DPWH project engineer Ramon Cacatian confirmed yesterday that with the onset of the rainy season, the bridge will have to wait for the construction of a detour bridge planned a few meters upstream the Tullahan River before actual work on it could start.

The road was inspected for a safety update last Tuesday and Cacatian said he will receive a copy of the report only today.

"We were required by Metropolitan Manila Development Authority ChairmanBayani Fernando to construct the detour bridge first before we start any work," said Cacatian. "The detour bridge is really necessary so we will have to wait."

But Cacatian said the detour bridge, which could take two months to build, could only be scheduled on the last quarter of the year or when the river current normalizes at the end of the rainy season. Only light vehicles, however, will be allowed too use the detour bridge and the rest will be diverted to the North Expressway.

"If we start now it will be useless because we cannot work on it safely because of the river’s current," said Cacatian. The heavily silted river, along with its garbage, usually swamps the bridge during heavy rains.

Aside from the warning, DPWH has also lowered the weight capacity of the bridge to 10 tons. According to DPWH’s Bureau of Design for Bridge director Engr. Adriano Duroy, Philippine bridges have a standard capacity of 20 tons.

The project calls for the total destruction of the bridge and construction of a new and elevated one. The project is reportedly worth P44 million to be funded by the Asian Development Bank while the detour bridge is worth as much as P9 million. – Jose Aravilla