The opening of a temporary Bailey bridge at the damaged Agana Bridge in Tarlac City has been delayed by about a week as water levels in the Tarlac River remain high, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon said Monday.
Dizon said the high water level makes it dangerous for workers to proceed with the installation of the bridge's supporting components, prompting the agency to prioritize safety.
“Ibig sabihin meron pa ring ulan na malakas sa upstream. Delikado kasi na magbaon tayo habang malaki pa ang tubig so we just want to be sure,” he said.
“Alam natin nagmamadali tayo kasi kawawa na yung mga kababayan natin sa Tarlac City, ang layo ng iniikutan nila. Pero hindi natin pwede ikompromiso ang safety ng workers, ng mga kababayan natin na dadaan,” added Dizon.
The DPWH chief said the agency is still aiming to reconnect the damaged sections of the Agana Bridge within the week, based on the latest assessment of the agency's regional director.
“Ayon kay Regional Director this week ay mapapadaanan na natin, maco-connect na natin ang Agana Bridge… Mukhang in the next few days matatayo na natin yung mga tiers,” Dizon said, adding that he plans to personally inspect the construction work over the weekend.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had earlier ordered the construction of a temporary Bailey bridge to reconnect the damaged portion of the Agana Bridge, which was partially washed away during heavy southwest monsoon rains.
During his September 2 visit to Tarlac, Marcos said the temporary bridge was expected to accommodate pedestrians within a week and light vehicles within two weeks. The initial plan was to allow vehicles weighing up to 10 tons to cross.
The Agana Bridge has been closed since a section of the structure collapsed on August 29 amid intense flooding, forcing motorists to take longer alternate routes and extending their travel time from about 20 minutes to as much as two hours.