The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will test the San Juanico Bridge on Wednesday to determine if heavy vehicles can already be allowed to use it within the month.
Leyte Gov. Carlos Jericho Petilla said the test was scheduled ahead of plans to increase the bridge’s load capacity by Friday.
Petilla, who chairs the Eastern Visayas Regional Development Council (RDC), said DPWH officials reported that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. may visit the bridge this week.
“DPWH officials reported that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. plans to come on Friday; if the President comes, that means the bridge is ready for heavy vehicles,” Petilla told reporters Tuesday.
“Everybody is still looking at restoring the bridge capacity to 30 tons from the current three tons to 15 tons… [it is] really a big help and it is most welcome,” he added.
In a Nov. 18 update, the DPWH said strengthening and retrofitting works on the iconic bridge are already 88 percent complete.
The PHP500-million project, funded through the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund, involves critical upgrades to improve the bridge’s load-bearing capacity.
Ongoing works include shoring operations and the retrofitting of Girders 1 and 3, which the agency says are vital to the bridge’s long-term durability.
Petilla said local officials expect the testing results to guide final adjustments before the bridge fully reopens to heavy vehicles.