Traffic resumes in E. Samar’s coastal road as DPWH, Mac Builders repair Quinapondan Bridge

By BRYAN M. AZURA
May 9, 2012

QUINAPONDAN  –  Incoming and outgoing traffic in Eastern Samar’s south coastal road was restored yesterday evening after it was closed down when Quinapondan bridge collapsed and rendered it impassable while workers were doing rehabilitation works on the said bridge.

According to District Engineer Ricardo Odita of Eastern Samar District Engineering Office, the bridge collapsed around 3’oclock in the morning of Tuesday, May 8. Upon receiving a call from Quinapondan Mayor Nedito Campo right after the incident, immediately Odita dispatched a group of personnel, to check on the condition of the bridge and of the area.

Engr. Domcelio Natividad, chief of the maintenance division of DPWH Borongan, said that the bridge incurred major scour and the approach had collapsed. ”We had no other option yesterday but to inform the public that the south coastal road was closed to traffic to avoid further discomfort among motorists,” Natividad said.

Going to and from Borongan City, were advised to use the alternate route which is the Taft-Buray route. “However, we made sure that the contractor made the urgent repairs in order to restore traffic in the area,” Odita said. By 7:15pm last night, light vehicles were already allowed to pass by the bridge using steel plates as temporary running board.

Natividad said that by today, concrete slabs were scheduled for installation to allow heavy vehicles to pass through but this was hindered as the crane to be used in the work was reported to be in non-working condition. As of press time, only light vehicles are allowed to pass through the bridge.