Bayambang: The repair of the 442-meter Carlos P. Romula Bridge, also known as the Wawa Bridge, situated along the Camiling-Wawa-Bayambang-Malasiqui-Sta. Barbara Road, is set to commence this quarter. The bridge, which serves as a crucial connector between Pangasinan and Tarlac, is vital for motorists, including commuter buses traveling to and from the National Capital Region.
According to Philippines News Agency, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Ilocos Region information officer Esperanza Tinaza announced that the project has been allocated PHP300 million under the 2024 national budget. The project will involve constructing a detour road, performing foundation works, and demolishing the existing bridge. Tinaza also mentioned that the procurement process and project initiation occurred in the fourth quarter of 2024, with a public consultation held on January 22 this year.
The bridge, originally constructed in 1945, succumbed to a total collapse in October 2022 after two trucks, a 12-wheeler dump truck and an elf truck, exceeded its 20-ton load limit. The trucks, carrying fertilizer and sand, weighed approximately 63.3 tons and six tons, respectively, and caused the collapse, injuring four individuals. In response, a temporary bailey bridge with a five-ton load limit was swiftly installed, allowing light vehicles to resume passage two weeks following the incident.
Tinaza emphasizes that the bailey bridge supports one-way traffic, requiring vehicles to maintain a 20-meter distance apart. Meanwhile, vehicles exceeding five tons are being rerouted via alternate paths, including the Bocboc Bridge-Mangatarem route and others, which are longer than the usual Camiling-Bayambang route. Six villages in Bayambang are located across the bridge, necessitating the deployment of the temporary bailey bridge.
Bayambang town mayor Mary Clare Judith Phyllis Jose Quiambao announced via social media that a second temporary bridge is planned to manage local and motorist traffic before the existing bridge's demolition and replacement construction. She assured that the town is working closely with the DPWH and other government agencies to meticulously plan and design a permanent bridge that will be sturdy, resilient, and well-fortified.
