Construction of 19 Austrian-funded bridges revealed

MANILA, Philippines - The construction of 19 turn-key bridges under the Bridge Construction and Acceleration Project for Calamity Stricken Areas I (BCAPCSA I) has been completed, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said.

The project, a collaboration between the Philippine government through the DPWH and Waagner-Biro Philippines Inc. (WBPI) started on July 7, 2008 and completed three months ahead of the July 6, 2011 deadline. WBPI is the local subsidiary of Austria-based corporation Waagner-Biro Stahlbau AG with shareholdings in the steel construction and mechanical engineering sectors.

The project for the contruction of 1,480-linear meter bridges was initiated to immediately replace disaster-stricken bridges with structurally sound permanent steel bridges, in order to sustain basic social industrial and agricultural activities, as well as to provide safe and faster movement of goods, services and people.

One of the the 19 bridges constructed by WBPI under the project is the Bugo Bridge, a 430-linear meter bridge located in San Remigio, Antique. It was physically completed last March 31, 2011 and inaugurated on May 5, 2011 by the Austrian Ambassador to the Philippines with DPWH officials, as well as concerned national and local officials of Antique Province.

The completion of BCAPCSA I is an infrastructure milestone of the DPWH and will serve as the latest contribution to the commendable experience of WBPI. It is also in time for the celebration of its 15^th year of successful operations in the Philippines.

In 2001, the DPWH Austrian Bridges Consortium WB + MCE signed a contract with the Philippine government represented by the DPWH for the project called, “DPWH Bridge Construction Replacement Project -Austrian Assisted” that involved the design and supply of 113 Austrian modular steel bridges, including the detailed engineering of substructures and auxiliary services for a total length of 7,825 linear meters.

The implementation of the project, covering the national and secondary road networks in the Philippines, took 39 months and was completed in July 2005. Included in this project were the 900-linear meter Calaba Bridge in Abra Province; 350-linear meter Jones Bridge in Jones, Isabela; and the 140-linear meter (steel bridge) Estrella-Pantaleon Bridge connecting the cities of Makati and Mandaluyong in Metro Manila.