The Agana Bridge in Tarlac City is expected to reopen to pedestrians and light vehicles this week, but vehicles weighing more than 10 tons will remain prohibited, Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon said Sunday.
Dizon said during an inspection that the bridge could reopen as early as Monday or Tuesday once workers complete the remaining repairs and the structure passes load testing.
Four-wheeled vehicles, coasters and light delivery trucks such as Elf-type vehicles will be allowed to cross, subject to the 10-ton limit. Buses and heavy trucks will remain barred.
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), along with the city and provincial governments, will identify the specific types of vehicles allowed on the bridge. Traffic personnel will also be deployed, while gantries will be installed at both ends to prevent oversized vehicles from entering.
Dizon said workers still have to finish the bridge deck and ramp before conducting load tests. He stressed that the bridge would only reopen once engineers determine that it is safe for limited traffic.
The closure has forced motorists to take a detour through Gerona, adding about one to one-and-a-half hours to travel time, according to Dizon. Tarlac Governor Christian Yap and 2nd District Rep. Maria Cristina Puno Cuello-Angeles said local authorities would help enforce the weight restriction.
Dizon apologized for the repair work extending about a week beyond the initial two-week target, saying the government would not compromise safety to speed up the reopening. A portion of the Agana Bridge collapsed on Aug. 29 following heavy rains and strong river currents.
Meanwhile, Dizon said the government plans to construct parallel bridges beside the Agana and Aquino bridges to expand Tarlac City’s bridge capacity. He said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had committed Php 300 million for work on the Aquino Bridge.
Under the long-term plan, new parallel structures will be built while the existing Agana and Aquino bridges undergo rehabilitation. The new bridges would eventually replace the aging structures as part of their permanent rehabilitation.
The middle section of the Aquino Bridge collapsed on Aug. 28 amid heavy rains brought by the southwest monsoon.
