Ebdane orders speedy repair of Tullahan bridge

Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. ordered the speedy repair of the Tullahan bridge, which straddles Malabon and Valenzuela, as he appealed to the public to bear with the inconvenience brought about by the repair activity.

The construction of the Tullahan bridge was completed last year but Ebdane ordered repairs on the damaged portion, especially the two approaches of the bridge.

Since it is still within the one-year warranty period, Ebdane stressed that all repairs would be done at the expense of the contractor.

He issued the order following monstrous traffic jams in the area Wednesday because of the ongoing repair works and the heavy rains brought about by typhoon “Karen.”

Tullahan bridge project engineer Ed Santos said it would take them three months to finish repairs.

Ebdane, Sen. Ramon Revilla Jr., Valenzuela Mayor Sherwin Gatchalian, Malabon Mayor Canuto Oreta and DPWH Undersecretary Ramon Aquino inspected the bridge recently.

“We will conduct core boring tests at the site to really determine the type of soil underneath the highway and come up with means to strengthen the base of the approaches apart from the rehabilitation of the bridge’s surface,” Ebdane explained, adding. “We have the time, we have the funds so all we have to do is to do it properly.”

The Tullahan bridge rehabilitation was completed last September. The contractor used asphalt instead of concrete.

With less than a year the approaches started to show cracks and deep potholes believed to have been caused by several factors like an unstable core, damaged and seeping water pipes and drivers of overloaded cargo trucks using the bridge.

Ebdane said there is also a need to strengthen the enforcement of traffic laws to protect the bridge from abusive truck drivers.

He said the DPWH, and the local governments of Valenzuela and Malabon will draw up traffic rerouting plans to lessen the impact of the repairs on the flow of traffic.

An alternative route will be provided to light vehicles, while buses will still be allowed to use the bridge.

There will also be a crackdown on overloaded cargo trucks will also be conducted with the help of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, Land Transportation Office and the local traffic enforcement units. More than 5,000 trucks pass through Tullahan bridge everyday.

Earlier, DPWH blamed the Maynilad Water Services Inc. for the rapid deterioration of the approaches due to its leaking water pipes.