The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) – Bulacan 2nd District Engineering Office will soon start the rehabilitation of the Ilog Bakod Bridge in San Miguel, Bulacan to ensure the safety of all vehicles passing on the bridge along Daang Maharlika Highway.

District Engineer George DC Santos on Thursday cited the immediate need to repair the damaged part of the bridge that was built in 1975.

“Due to the sustained damage on the girder caused by the repeated heavy loads, the bridge slabs were also subjected to partial failure. This bridge was built in 1975 and is no longer in good condition due to age. We know that the code used in the bridge design is outdated, hence, we expected that the capacity of its major structural components will no longer be able to meet its current live load,” Santos said in a statement following the inspection they conducted on the bridge last month.

He said severe vibration on top of the existing deck slab was also reported whenever heavy trucks were passing by.

To minimize heavy traffic, Santos said a section of Daang Maharlika will be widened near the site to provide motorists access once the repair works start.

It is estimated that the repair works on the bridge will take five months to complete.

Santos said they will be implementing traffic management measures to alleviate the impact of the bridge repair on the flow of vehicles and to avoid any inconvenience to residents and motorists.

“A sufficient number of traffic personnel will also be deployed to manage the flow of vehicles 24/7 especially during rush hours,” he added. (PNA)