Thousands stranded as Cagayan bridge collapses

TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan – Thousands of motorists and passengers were stranded  when part of a more than three decades old Lucban bridge in Abulug town in the northwestern part of this province collapsed Saturday night, following an attempt by an overloaded 40-ton truck  to cross the bridge. 

Traffic is now back to normal in the area after nearly two days of round-the-clock work by the Department of Public Works and Highways’ Cagayan engineering district and the provincial engineering office to construct a temporary bridge.

Chief Superintendent Ameto Tolentino, Cagayan Valley police director, said   no one was  hurt in the accident, which happened when the overloaded truck carrying a bulldozer, tried to cross the bridge despite exceeding the load limit.

This caused the 50-meter span of the 300-meter-long bridge to collapse at around 6:30 p.m. Saturday, making passage for all types of vehicles impossible.

The province’s northern towns west of Abulug leading to Ilocos were temporarily cut off from the rest of the province and isolated from this capital town.

Built during the Marcos administration, the Lucban bridge served as a vital link between this country’s northernmost mainland province and the Ilocos provinces.

Gov. Alvaro Antonio and Rep. Florencio Vargas, whose 2nd congressional district covers Abulug town, had already gone to the area to fasttrack the rehabilitation of the bridge so as not to affect economic activities in the province.