Detour bridge opens in Cagayan town
TUGUEGARAO CITY—A detour bridge in Barangay Piggatan, Alcala town, Cagayan, has been opened to traffic on Friday, easing traffic at a vital link to the other parts of the province over two months after the collapse of the 45-year-old Piggatan Bridge on Oct. 6.
Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon, who led the opening, said the detour bridge would ensure continuous mobility in the area.
“We made sure the structure is sturdy and provides greater access,” Dizon told reporters.
DPWH-Cagayan Valley regional director Mathias Malenab said the detour bridge will improve the movement of people, goods and services, particularly for commuters and motorists traveling to northern Cagayan and nearby provinces.
The detour bridge can carry loads of up to 40 tons, more than double the 18-ton capacity of the collapsed bridge.
Restrictions
To ensure safety, the DPWH has imposed vehicle classifications and traffic restrictions.
Unloaded trailers, tankers, 10-wheeler trucks, loaded 10-wheelers and dump trucks with up to 27-ton capacity are allowed to cross one at a time due to the bridge’s width.
Loaded trailers and tankers with a maximum capacity of 40 tons are also restricted to one-at-a-time passage.
Light vehicles—including motorcycles, tricycles, passenger cars, SUVs, minibuses, loaded jeepneys, six-wheeler trucks, elf trucks and closed vans with up to 17-ton capacity—are allowed to pass.
The Oct. 6 bridge collapse caused four trucks, including two loaded 16-wheelers, to fall into the riverbed and injured six people, one of whom was pinned beneath his vehicle. The collapse was blamed on overload trucks.
Following the bridge’s collapse, trucks exceeding the 40-ton limit have been directed to use alternate routes, including the Junction Cattaran–Cumao–Capissayan–Sta. Margarita Road via Baybayog–Baggao–Dalin–Sta. Margarita Road in Baggao town.
