Tacloban: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has announced that the San Juanico Bridge is expected to be fully operational by mid-2026, with each traffic lane capable of handling a load capacity of up to 33 metric tons.

According to Philippines News Agency, during an on-site inspection in Tacloban City, President Marcos expressed his satisfaction with the progress of the ongoing rehabilitation works. The bridge currently accommodates 15 metric tons per direction, and the full restoration is nearing its deadline. Marcos emphasized that by the middle or third quarter of next year, the bridge will be fully functional.

The Tacloban City government is considering implementing one-way traffic at night to allow trucks with a 30-ton load to cross the bridge. This strategy would require local government units to manage traffic to ensure the effective flow of vehicles.

President Marcos highlighted the importance of regular inspection and maintenance to avoid costly retrofitting in the future. The government has allocated approximately PHP1.1 billion for the bridge's retrofitting, which could have been avoided with proper maintenance.

The San Juanico Bridge, a 2.16-km structure connecting Samar and Leyte provinces, has been restricted to vehicles weighing up to 3 metric tons since May due to structural concerns. This restriction disrupted the movement of heavy vehicles, leading to the use of alternative routes and expanded roll-on/roll-off services to maintain cargo transport between Samar and Leyte.

The bridge has recently reopened to two-way traffic under the new weight limit, improving the movement of goods and passengers across Eastern Visayas.