NAVAL, Biliran -- The Department of Public Works and Highways - Biliran District Engineering Office (DPWH-BDEO) will upgrade the design of two bridge widening projects along the Naval-Caibiran Cross Country Road (NCCCR) under 2022 funding.

District Engineer Ferdinand A. Briones said the widening of Alawihaw and Cabadiangan bridges in Brgy. Lucsoon in Naval town will undergo revision of plans and design to address the problem of flooding.

According to Briones, instead of widening the bridge by adding one lane on both sides of the existing bridge, a new two-lane elevated bridge will be constructed parallel to the existing Cabadiangan and Alawihaw bridges.

“During this early of the year na we experienced typhoon Agaton, hindi na siya maganda kasi ang tubig dito malakas ang current, so nag-ooverflow ang tulay na ito, although may tulay, but it could not be a passable bridge because ang tubig is above the roadway of the bridge, so hindi rin madaanan,” said Briones.

Briones revealed that once the parallel bridges will be completed, the existing bridges will be demolished for upgrading.

“Right after the completion of this new bridge, meron naman kaming proposal for the succeeding year, 2023 to complete exactly this existing bridge, same way to the new bridge, elevated na rin siya,” said Briones.

Briones said the completion of the bridge projects will safeguard the bridge from flooding.

“Kahit umulan ng malakas, makakadaan pa rin ang mga motorista, that is how we treat to the condition everytime may bagyo, we have to upgrade the design,” said Briones.

Engr. Karl Philip Canoy, planning engineer, said the P27.5-M Alawihaw Bridge has a proposed length of 35 meters with a height of 2.54 meters at the center spam of the bridge measured from the riverbed to the bottom of the girder and an approximate 1.9-meter difference in elevation from the existing bridge to the new bridge.

Meanwhile, the P29.4-M Cabadiangan Bridge has a proposed length of 35 meters with a height of 3.78 meters at the center spam of the bridge measured from the riverbed to the bottom of the girder and an approximate 2.07-meter difference in elevation from the existing bridge to the new bridge.

As of July 30, 2022, the widening of Alawihaw and Cabadiangan bridges has an accomplishment of 25.65% and 78.87% respectively. (DPWH-BDEO)