DPWH: Overloading caused Bayambang bridge collapse
>> Saturday, November 5, 2022
DAGUPAN CITY -- The
Dept. of Public Works and Highways Ilocos said the Carlos P. Romulo Bridge
(formerly Wawa Bridge) in Barangay Wawa, Bayambang, Pangasinan collapsed due to
overloading.
A portion of the bridge came apart Oct. 20 at around 4 p.m. when a dump truck loaded with sand and an Isuzu Elf truck loaded with fertilizer traversed the southbound lane of the Carlos P. Romulo Bridge at the same time.
The trucks, both heading to Camiling in Tarlac, fell 30 feet down with the portion of the bridge.
Drivers and passengers of both trucks sustained injuries and were immediately taken to the Bayambang District Hospital for medical treatment.
They are now in stable condition.
Col. Jeff Fanged, officer in charge of Pangasinan Police Provincial Office, identified the injured as Roger Solomon, driver of the Elf truck and its passenger Cesario Del Rosario, both of Barangay Bobon 2nd, Camiling, Tarlac.
The dump truck driver was identified as Richard Pecson, 32, of Barangay San Vicente, San Jacinto, Pangasinan, and his passenger Ronico Yanes, 23, of Barangay Lasip, Lingayen, Pangasinan.
In a statement, DPWH Ilocos Regional Director Ronnel Tan said the two overloaded vehicles caused the bridge to collapse.
"The condition of the bridge is fair, meaning there are no visible major defects," Tan said.
He said the bridge, constructed in 1945, has a load limit of 20 tons, but the two trucks — a 12-wheeler dump truck and a six-wheeler Elf truck — weighed about 63.3 tons and six tons, respectively.
The maintenance crew of Pangasinan Fourth District Engineering Office immediately placed the necessary warning signs to inform the motorists and pedestrians plying the route, he said.
"A bailey bridge that will serve as a temporary route will be installed in two weeks' time," he added.
In the meantime, all motorists are advised to use the Bayambang-San Carlos-Aguilar Road via Bocboc Bridge-Mangatarem, and vice versa as an alternate route while the former Wawa Bridge is being repaired.
Motorists can also take Carmen Junction-Manat Road (National Road), take Bayambang-Bautista-Alcala-Sto. Tomas-Carmen, Rosales Road/Manila North Road (Rosales-Tarlac), and vice versa.
Bayambang Mayor Mary Clare Judith Phyllis "Niña" Jose-Quiambao advised the students of Bayambang National High School, Wawa Elementary School, Bayambang Central School, and Pangasinan State University to be excused from physical classes and have online classes while the bridge is under repair.
"For those who have their water supply cut off, please be advised that Bayambang Water District is already in the area trying to fix the line and provide temporary water," the mayor said.
A portion of the bridge came apart Oct. 20 at around 4 p.m. when a dump truck loaded with sand and an Isuzu Elf truck loaded with fertilizer traversed the southbound lane of the Carlos P. Romulo Bridge at the same time.
The trucks, both heading to Camiling in Tarlac, fell 30 feet down with the portion of the bridge.
Drivers and passengers of both trucks sustained injuries and were immediately taken to the Bayambang District Hospital for medical treatment.
They are now in stable condition.
Col. Jeff Fanged, officer in charge of Pangasinan Police Provincial Office, identified the injured as Roger Solomon, driver of the Elf truck and its passenger Cesario Del Rosario, both of Barangay Bobon 2nd, Camiling, Tarlac.
The dump truck driver was identified as Richard Pecson, 32, of Barangay San Vicente, San Jacinto, Pangasinan, and his passenger Ronico Yanes, 23, of Barangay Lasip, Lingayen, Pangasinan.
In a statement, DPWH Ilocos Regional Director Ronnel Tan said the two overloaded vehicles caused the bridge to collapse.
"The condition of the bridge is fair, meaning there are no visible major defects," Tan said.
He said the bridge, constructed in 1945, has a load limit of 20 tons, but the two trucks — a 12-wheeler dump truck and a six-wheeler Elf truck — weighed about 63.3 tons and six tons, respectively.
The maintenance crew of Pangasinan Fourth District Engineering Office immediately placed the necessary warning signs to inform the motorists and pedestrians plying the route, he said.
"A bailey bridge that will serve as a temporary route will be installed in two weeks' time," he added.
In the meantime, all motorists are advised to use the Bayambang-San Carlos-Aguilar Road via Bocboc Bridge-Mangatarem, and vice versa as an alternate route while the former Wawa Bridge is being repaired.
Motorists can also take Carmen Junction-Manat Road (National Road), take Bayambang-Bautista-Alcala-Sto. Tomas-Carmen, Rosales Road/Manila North Road (Rosales-Tarlac), and vice versa.
Bayambang Mayor Mary Clare Judith Phyllis "Niña" Jose-Quiambao advised the students of Bayambang National High School, Wawa Elementary School, Bayambang Central School, and Pangasinan State University to be excused from physical classes and have online classes while the bridge is under repair.
"For those who have their water supply cut off, please be advised that Bayambang Water District is already in the area trying to fix the line and provide temporary water," the mayor said.
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