MORE NEWS, CAGAYAN

Thousands stranded as Cagayan bridge collapses
BY ARMAND TAMARAY

ABULUG, Cagayan – Thousands of motorists and passengers were stranded when part of the more than three decades old Lucban bridge here in the northwestern part of this province collapsed night of August 18, following an attempt by an overloaded 40-ton truck to cross the bridge.

Traffic is now back to normal in the area after nearly two days of round-the-clock work by the Department of Public Works and Highways’ Cagayan engineering district and the provincial engineering office to construct a temporary bridge.

Chief Supt. Ameto Tolentino, Cagayan Valley police director, said no one was hurt in the accident, which happened when the overloaded truck carrying a bulldozer, tried to cross the bridge despite exceeding the load limit.

This caused the 50-meter span of the 200-meter-long bridge to collapse at around 6:30 p.m. that night making passage for all types of vehicles impossible.
The province’s northern towns west of Abulug leading to Ilocos were temporarily cut off from the rest of the province isolated from this capital town.

Built during the Marcos Administration, the bridge served as a vital link between this country’s northernmost mainland province and Ilocos provinces.

Gov. Alvaro Antonio and Rep. FLorencio Vargas, whose 2nd congressional district covers Abulug, went to the area to hasten rehabilitation of the bridge so as not to affect economic activities in the province.