CABANATUAN CITY (PIA) -- Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) completed and has opened to the public the two-lane Luyos-Buliran Bridge in San Antonio, Nueva Ecija.

The 105.8 meter-infrastructure would primarily be beneficial to residents of the once isolated barangay Buliran since travel time has now been reduced to only 15 minutes from the previous one-hour travel time just to reach neighboring barangay Luyos.

“The two barangays are separated by the Pampanga River and when the old bridge was severely damaged, the people of barangay Buliran suffered a lot because it was difficult for them to bring their agricultural products to the nearby markets.  Now, we have restored the link between the two rural communities,” DPWH Regional Director Roseller Tolentino said.

Prior to the completion of the P123 million project, residents had to pass through Sta. Isabel Bridge in Cabiao town, then pass through the San Isidro Bridge in San Isidro town. 

“The project was implemented in two phases. The first phase involved the construction of the substructure of the bridge from the bored piles up to the coping, erection of columns, and the fabrication of girders,” Tolentino disclosed.

Second phase, on the other hand, included the construction of the bridge's superstructure, roadway approaches for both abutments, and slope protection works. (CLJD-PIA 3)