THE SIFFU Bridge along the Santiago-Tuguegarao Road in Roxas, Isabela, which was damaged by typhoon Rosita (international name: Yutu) and has been closed since Oct. 30, was reopened yesterday, Dec. 4. The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), in a statement, said the reopening comes ahead of the Dec. 20 target. “(B)y working 24/7 through concerted efforts coming from the contractor and field personnel, our team was able to finish the temporary steel bridge structure more than two weeks ahead of schedule,” DPWH) Region II Director Melanio C. Briosos said. The 90-meter bridge is still a temporary steel structure and passable only to light vehicles with maximum allowable gross vehicle weight of 10 tons such vans, jeeps, cars, buses and 2-axle dump trucks and light trucks. DPWH said it will need a P620 million allocation for the full restoration of the bridge. It added that while awaiting the construction of a new permanent bridge, the implementation of weight restriction on vehicles to ensure safety will be undertaken in coordination with local authorities.
