San Juanico Bridge off-limits to heavy vehicles

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines — Vehicles weighing more that three tons will not be allowed to pass through the San Juanico Bridge in Eastern Visayas due to repair works, according to the Department of Public Works and Highways.

DPWH-Eastern Visayas assistant director Ma. Margarita Junia said the rehabilitation aims to strengthen the structural integrity of the bridge, in compliance with a memorandum issued by DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan.

The repair will cost the government P900 million and will be undertaken over two years.

Junia said that instead of totally closing the bridge to vehicular traffic, the DPWH decided to restrict vehicle access by imposing a three-ton maximum weight limit.

Vehicles exceeding the weight limit such as cargo trucks and passenger buses were directed to use one of the ports identified by the Philippine Ports Authority, where roll-on roll-off vessels or barges are waiting to transport them across the San Juanico Strait toward their destinations.

Traffic started to build up at the Leyte and Samar approaches of the bridge this week as not everyone was aware of the restriction.

The DPWH said the restriction must be strictly enforced to ensure safety of motorists, mitigate risks and facilitate essential repair and maintenance work.

The San Juanico Bridge was built in August 1969 and completed in 1973.

It is the longest bridge along the Pan-Philippine Highway that connects Luzon and Mindanao.