Bridge repair motorists told: Brace for traffic starting today

CEBU, Philippines — Due to rehabilitation works, one of the southbound lanes of Mananga Bridge 3 in Talisay City will be closed starting today. The 390-meter bridge is located in the Cebu South Coastal Road near the Talisay City Hall.

Focal Person on Traffic Management Joy Tumulak said that the rehabilitation for the three northbound lanes has been finished this month. It included the replacement of four expansion joints and asphalting.

Starting today, the three opposite lanes to South Cebu will undergo the same process by replacing two expansion joints with new ones before putting asphalt over again. Back in 2017, two expansion joints of the southbound lanes were also repaired.

The rehabilitation is a "preventive maintenance project" by the second engineering district of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). The total project cost is P50 million. It will also include scarifying asphalt overlay and re-asphalting of the bridge deck.

The contractor pledged to work 24 hours to complete the rehabilitation project within a month.

Tumulak advised the drivers and passengers who will pass by the area to expect slower than the usual traffic flow. He assured the public that the rehabilitation will not result to total closure of the bridge.

Traffic enforcers from City of Talisay Traffic Operations and Development Authority (CT-TODA) will also be deployed on both ends of the bridge to prevent traffic congestion.

Meanwhile, the DPWH pledged to monitor the progress of the project to ensure that there will be no delays. —  FPL (FREEMAN)