Reports on danger at SRP 'Baseless': Nothing to worry about vibrations

Reports of dangerous road "vibrations" at certain portions of the South Reclamation Project (SRP) are baseless, said Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña.

Osmeña yesterday shrugged off the reports and assured that the reclaimed area is risk free.

"There's no risk at all," he said, saying that there is no reason to worry. The reports said that there are "vibrations" when big trucks pass by the area.

The mayor said that the road at the SRP is certified to withstand loads more than the roads in the city having been rated 40 tons, even more than the 15 tons rate of the old Mactan bridge, that is even currently utilized by trucks weighing up to 40 tons.

"There is a possibility of vibration when the truck is traveling at 100 km/hour but it's very hard to collapse," Osmeña said.

Osmeña added it could be that the vibrations were felt at the South Coastal Road where most of the big trucks pass.

A source from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the agency that supervised the construction of the coastal road, also affirmed Osmeña's statement that there is nothing to worry because the vibrations are but normal especially in structures like the coastal road. The source said that the ability to vibrate would help keep the road from collapsing.

SRP Manager Nigel Paul Villarete said that assuming the vibrations were true, the same should not be made an issue because that is normally felt especially with the presence of big trucks. Vibrations are present in the city streets, he said, but if you drive with many vehicles around you, you don't feel it.