Girder launcher falls on 8 cars in Pasay

MANILA, Philippines - A bridge girder launcher at the 1.6-kilometer Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Expressway project in Pasay City came loose yesterday afternoon and fell on eight vehicles passing underneath.

According to the Metrobase of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) the girder came crashing down on the vehicles along Tramo Road near Andrews Avenue at past 3 p.m.

The MMDA’s Road Emergency Unit, which rushed to the scene, said no one was injured or killed in the incident.

A bridge girder launcher helps put prefabricated precast girders on prefabricated piers. It lifts the precast girder slabs, transports them to specific location and drops them using a crane.

The MMDA listed the damaged vehicles as a Mazda 3 (AAQ-2450) driven by Benjamin Dellosa; a Toyota Vios (TQD-206) driven by Michael Espiritu; a Toyota Innova (TYT-955) driven by Leoncio Pili Jr.; a Toyota Revo (WMA-973) driven by Alvin Abcede; a Toyota Innova (PIU-740) driven by Conrado Manansala; a mini van (YES-753) driven by Necesito Manikan; a Mitsubishi Montero Sport (PQD-617) and a Ford Ranger (AAY-1715).

At just before 5 p.m., motorists were trapped in a gridlock as part of Tramo Road and the EDSA-Tramo flyover was totally closed to traffic, the MMDA’s Metrobase said.

The accident also affected 48 domestic and international flights at NAIA’s four terminals. Travelers were seen riding pedicabs to reach their flights on time.

The NAIA Expressway is a 1.6-kilometer elevated expressway project of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) that runs from the Skyway to Andrews Avenue near NAIA Terminal 3. The elevated expressway project is divided into four packages and is touted as the first airport expressway in the country. The construction of the project began on Jan. 2.

MMDA deputy general manager for operations Emerson Carlos said the owners of the damaged vehicles may ask for compensation from the contractor of the project. He added that the incident will be probed by the DPWH as it is their project.