Construction, repair of 62 bridges part of $214 MCC Samar road project

By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
January 24, 2012

TACLOBAN CITY  –  The construction and rehabilitation of 62 bridges in Samar and Eastern Samar are part of the Secondary National Roads Development Project (SNRDP) under the Philippine Compact with Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC).

Engr. Rene Galapon of the Department of Public Works and Highways Regional Office 8, who is the Project Engineer, informed that of the 62 bridges, 17 are for total replacement, 42 are for rehabilitation and repair and three are for completion as they are now ongoing.

Under package A of the project, 28 bridges are involved. These include 12 bridges that are up for minor rehabilitation, three (3) bridges which are due for super structural replacement, six (6) will undergo sub-structural repair, pier retrofit and pier replacement and seven (7) bridges are due for total replacement.

Package B includes 34 bridges, 16 of which will undergo minor rehabilitation, four (4) are due for pier retrofit, and 14 are due for total replacement.

The SNRDP involves not only the construction and rehabilitation of a 220-kilometer of existing roads and bridges covering two provinces in Samar Island but also involves road widening, drainage installation and other road safety improvements, Engr. Galapon said.

The SNRDP begins at the junction of Pan Philippine Highway and Buray (Wright) in Western Samar and passing along mountainous terrain to Taft, Engr. Galapon further said.

From Taft, it continues southward along the coastline of Eastern Samar ending in Guiuan, passing through a total of 15 municipalities. The roads project is expected to accrue economic benefits by lowering vehicle operating costs, and saving the time of people living near the roads thus enabling them to have greater access to commercial activities as well as to their basic needs, Engr. Galapon added.

The project recognizes DPWH standard right-of-way limit, the DPWH engineer said.