Metal support in San Juanico’s pier gives way

TACLOBAN CITY — A portion of the San Juanico Bridge connecting the islands of Samar and Leyte slid down by at least 10 centimeters after the aging metal support for its concrete foundation gave way.

Engineer Jimmy Chan, the Philippine-Japan Highway Loan project manager, attributed it to "material fatigue."

Thousands of passengers and motorists were stranded yesterday. But the Department of Public Works and Highways gave assurances that traffic flow along that portion of the bridge would normalize by 5 a.m. today, although only vehicles weighing no more than 20 tons would be allowed to pass.

Chan said Japanese firm Sumitomo, principal contractor of the P700-million San Juanico Bridge rehabilitation, was rushing the repair of that portion of the 2.16-kilometer bridge.

Last Sept. 22, a barge rammed into another concrete foundation or pier of the bridge, leaving a P25-million damage.

The San Juanico rehabilitation program is 38 percent complete. It started last January and is expected to be finished in November next year. — Miriam Garcia Desacada, Jose Aravilla