The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) finally reopened the Tullahan Bridge in Northern Metro Manila last Sunday after six months of reconstruction that was marred by controversies.
DPWH Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. and Valenzuela Mayor Sherwin Gatchalian led the official inauguration of the 73-year-old bridge, which had undergone total reconstruction through a P63-million infrastructure development project.
Angelito Twano, DPWH assistant director for the National Capital Region, assured that the new bridge is structurally stable and now passable to all types of vehicles.
“The Tullahan Bridge project has been completed. We were able to meet the deadline given by the local government. In fact, we opened the bridge three days before our actual target of completion, which is Oct. 31,” Twano stressed in an interview.
The DPWH official said they took advantage of the fair weather to finish ensuring the stability of the base and laying the asphalt.
But Twano said they still have to finish cementing the sidewalk on the side of the bridge, but assured the public that this would not affect traffic flow on the bridge.
The reconstruction of the actual Tullahan Bridge had been completed last Sept. 15, but the DPWH sought another month for the completion of the approaches at both ends of the infrastructure.
The bridge was partially reopened to traffic last Oct. 15, but this scheme was criticized by local officials after it caused traffic gridlock in the area as well as damages to some vehicles that were stuck at the water-logged approaches, prompting the DPWH to again close the bridge.
When the repair of the bridge connecting Metro Manila to Northern Luzon was launched in April, the DPWH had targeted only two months to complete the project.
Delays in the construction were, however, experienced due to reported objections by the local government of Valenzuela supposedly in connection with the May 14 elections, and to some alleged irregularities in the project.