Munti, PNCC approve viaduct repair plan

The Muntinlupa City government and the Philippine National Construction Company (PNCC) agreed Tuesday on a "workable rehabilitation plan for the failing Alabang viaduct."

Mayor Jaime Fresnedi and PNCC chairman Luis Sison, with Bert Suansing of the Confederation of Truckers’ Associations in the Philippines (CTAP), agreed on the two-phase Alabang Viaduct Rehabilitation Project (AVRP), which will start on Aug. 1.

But City Engineer Vic Navrro said the AVRP is actually only a partial rehabilitation" of the viaduct. "It’s still not what we have recommended. We want a total rehabilitation of the bridge," he said.

In the agreed AVRP, two feeder lanes to be used exclusively by trucks from the Alabang entry and exit gates will be constructed. The national road underneath the viaduct would also be widened and construction time is expected to take five months. The next phase, the statement added, will include the construction of "additional elevated lanes running parallel to the viaduct." These lanes will be later integrated into the Skyway Stage 2.

It is only after the upgrades that repairs on the bridge itself, such as "post-tensioning and seismic reinforcements" will be carried out, the statement noted.

Navarro explained that the bridge, built in 1976, has already utilized its "useful lifespan." He cited the visible cracks on the grid which the PNCC had solved by applying concrete epoxy.

Navarro said that aside from the AVRP, it would also be better if the PNCC would consider adopting a new design for the viaduct. "Its design is not suited anymore to the present traffic load," he said.

Only trucks without loads are allowed to use the viaduct by the PNCC to avoid its collapse. Navarro assured motorists that light vehicles would not do damage to the bridge. – Nikko Dizon