DPWH: Tullahan Bridge safe despite small cracks

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) assured the public yesterday of the newly built Tullahan Bridge’s structural integrity following the discovery of cracks on its approaches a few days after it was reopened to traffic.

Engineer Angelito Twaño, DPWH assistant director for National Capital Region, said that the cracks found at the approaches were caused by the seepage of water under the bridge.

“There is nothing to worry about. The cracks they found at the approaches are only alligator cracks. It is normal and is found only in a small portion of the approaches where there is water seep(ing) from underneath the asphalt,” Twaño said in an interview over the phone.

“It is normal because we cannot determine the exact texture of the soil underneath, it is only a small portion that we were able to correct temporarily through the application of a cold mix asphalt yesterday (Oct. 31),” he stressed.

The DPWH official said that on Monday, they will conduct square hauling at the approaches to determine where the water is coming from. Square hauling involves the use of square cutter on a small portion of the approaches to get the upper portion of the asphalt to determine the saturated portion of the soil.

“This is quite easy, and will take only an hour or so. We won’t have to close the bridge to traffic while doing it,” he said. “We will do it at around midnight so motorists using the bridge will not be affected.”

Twaño also addressed the issue on why the department awarded a separate contract for the bridge proper and for the approaches.

“There is a separate contract for the bridge proper because the funding came from separate sources. The bridge proper is locally funded while the approaches came from foreign funding from the ADB (Asian Development Bank),” he said.

Valenzuela City Mayor Sherwin Gatchalian has reportedly expressed concern over the reported cracks in the asphalted approaches to the Tullahan Bridge.

Local officials said that some small cracks have developed in several portions of the northbound and southbound approaches to the bridge that was reopened to all types of vehicles only last Sunday.