MANILA, Philippines — The Dimasalang Bridge in Manila is expected to reopen to motorists on Oct. 20, about four and a half months after rehabilitation work began, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon said Thursday.
Dizon said the bridge rehabilitation started in June and was accelerated because of its importance to traffic in the area, particularly with the observance of ‘Undas’ approaching.
“We will open this very soon. Hopefully, in the next two weeks. Our target for the reopening is October 20,” said Dizon who inspected the bridge earlier this week.
The DPWH chief directed the district engineer and contractor to open the bridge to vehicles as soon as the roadway is completed, even if some work on the side portions is still ongoing.
The bridge is near the Manila North Cemetery, making its reopening particularly important ahead of the observance of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day or ‘Undas,’ when thousands of people are expected to visit cemeteries in Metro Manila.
“If this remains closed during Undas, our people would really suffer from the traffic in this area,” Dizon said.
Dizon said the entire bridge underwent rehabilitation, including its upper and lower portions, requiring its closure during construction.
Dizon told The Manila Times that the Dimasalang bridge rehabilitation demonstrated that DPWH projects could be completed quickly without sacrificing quality when closely monitored and properly implemented.
“I want to prove that it can be done. As long as we take the work seriously, we don't do substandard work, and the construction is done properly,” Dizon said.
He said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had repeatedly stressed that the government's efforts should be felt by ordinary Filipinos not only through enforcement and accountability measures but also through faster and better public projects.
Dizon said that the Dimasalang Bridge rehabilitation showed that a major infrastructure project in the middle of Metro Manila could be completed in four and a half months.
He pointed to the bridge's expansion joints as among the portions he closely inspected because poor workmanship in such components could affect the quality and durability of a bridge.
He hoped the pace and quality of the project would eventually become the standard across DPWH projects nationwide.
The secretary likewise credited Manila Mayor Isko Moreno and the city government for allowing the bridge to be closed completely during construction which he said helped DPWH accelerate the rehabilitation.
He reiterated that the Dimasalang Bridge would be reopened before Undas.
“To our fellow citizens in the City of Manila, especially those who have relatives they will visit at the North Cemetery during Undas, rest assured that before Undas, we will be open. We will open on Oct. 20,” Dizon said.
