6 hurt as new bridge in Isabela collapses

IT COMES CRASHING DOWN The third span of this 990-meter Cabagan-Santa Maria Bridge in Cabagan, Isabela, comes crashing down on Thursday night, along with a dump truck, whose content of quarried stones have been spilled all over the damaged section of the span. Four other vehicles also crossing the newly completed bridge at that time were damaged, injuring six people. —VILLAMOR VISAYA JR.

The P1.22-B Cabagan-Santa Maria Bridge in Isabela collapsed on Thursday, injuring six people and sending four vehicles crashing into a dried-up section of Cagayan River below.
The regional office of DPWH in Cagayan Valley confirmed that the third span of the 990-meter, nine-span bridge collapsed, but Engr. Mathias Malenab, officer in charge of DPWH-Region 2, said they have yet to determine the exact cause of the collapse.
The bridge was initially funded with P639 million. Structural defects discovered that same year led to an additional P274.8 million being allocated for retrofitting work, which was completed on Feb. 1—less than a month before the collapse.

CABAGAN, ISABELA—At least six people were injured when a portion of the barely-a-month-completed Cabagan-Santa Maria Bridge in this town collapsed on Thursday evening, sending four vehicles, including a dump truck loaded with stones, crashing into the dried up section of the bank of Cagayan River, authorities said.

The Cabagan Rescue Team 911 reported that five of the victims sustained minor injuries and were treated at the Milagros Albano District Hospital.

A young boy, who suffered critical head and body injuries, was rushed to the Cagayan Valley Medical Center for further treatment, the rescue team said.

According to the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, the damaged vehicles included a dump truck, two sports utility vehicles and a motorcycle.

It said the truck driver and a helper remained missing and were believed to have fled the area.

The regional office of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Cagayan Valley confirmed that the third span of the 990-meter, nine-span bridge collapsed at around 8 p.m. on Thursday.

In an interview on Friday, Engr. Mathias Malenab, officer in charge of DPWH-Region 2, said they have yet to determine the exact cause of the collapse.

Assessment

Malenab said he had requested additional evaluation and technical assessments from experts at the Bureau of Design and Bureau of Construction in the DPWH-Central Office.

The bridge, which connects Cabagan to Santa Maria town, was initially funded with P639 million in 2017 and was supposed to be completed by 2019.

However, construction delays pushed its completion to 2021. Structural defects discovered that same year led to an additional P274.8 million being allocated for retrofitting work, which was completed on Feb. 1—less than a month before the collapse.

In total, the DPWH confirmed that P1.22 billion has been spent on the bridge project since its commencement in November 2014.

The bridge, which features 12 arch bridges with 60-meter and nine-span prestressed concrete girders, has still to be formally inaugurated even as it has been opened to commuters.

Following the incident, only light vehicles were permitted to cross the overflow bridge adjacent to the damaged structure.

The DPWH has urged motorists to exercise “extra caution” while passing through the area, as investigations continued to determine the cause of the collapse.