ALARMED by the 30-meter crack on Marikina Bridge, Marikina Mayor Marcelino “Marcy” Teodoro urged the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to act swiftly in releasing findings and repairing the decades-old infrastructure, which serves as one of the city’s main roads.

Teodoro echoed his concerns in the letter he sent to DPWH-National Capital Region Director Loreta M. Malaluan last Friday, January 6, urging the “immediate rectification of the structural damage on Marikina Bridge caused by the DPWH-NCR Project-Sumulong Flood Interceptor.”

“Ito ‘yong main bridge. Ito ‘yong ma-traffic palagi, pinanggagalingan ng lahat ng mga sasakyan [mula] San Mateo, Montalban, [at] Antipolo. Kapag bumabaha, narito ang ating water level. Kaya nakababahala,” he said, noting that aside from the 30-meter long crack, other cracks were also found along the shoulder joints of the bridge.

Reaching out to the DPWH on the same day, an independent consultant was sent to the city and conducted a geotechnical investigation to examine the “structural integrity” and “soundness” of the bridge, provide a safety status report on the use of the restricted/cracked portion on the bridge 40 meters of the weakened joint head, undertake rectification activities, and commitment to providing daily updates to the Marikina LGU on the status of the rectification activities.”

The local government unit (LGU), however, continues to follow up on the final results and recommendations following the investigation.

“Kailangan natin ito para matiyak natin kung ligtas na madadaanan ‘yung tulay,” Teodoro stated.

As of this writing, the side of the bridge with cracks remains closed, resulting in heavy traffic and causing huge inconvenience to the public, as well as to the transportation of goods and products in and out of the city.

“Kaya ako ay nanawagan at kinausap nang mabuti ang DPWH na mailabas sila agad-agaran. At nang sa ganoon, pati ‘yong rectification at repair para roon sa damaged area ay maisagawa nang maayos. Napakalaking problem nito. Unimaginable, talagang ito ang dinadaanan nang halos lahat ng sasakyan,” the official noted.

At the moment, following the LGU’s rerouting scheme, big trucks and delivery vehicles are passing along Fernando Avenue and going out to Marcos Highway.

“Doon sila sa kabilang tulay dumadaan. Doon sa Marcos Highway Bridge. ‘Yon nga lang, lahat ng trapiko ay naiipon ngayon doon,” Teodoro shared.

In a separate letter sent to the DPWH a day after, findings based on the initial investigation conducted by the LGU were revealed, which included “pipe laying” and “continuous rain” as the causes of the scouring on the bridge.

“One of the representatives of the DPWH-NCR, Engineer Edgardo S. Ramos, and the Contractor, Amore Construction, has informed us that meter-long cracks appeared due to their non-stop pile driving activities for the pipe laying, coupled with continuous rain caused the scouring on the soil which loosened it. This weakened the backfill foundation on the approach of the bridge,” it was disclosed.

Presently, the site of the damage at the bridge has been cordoned off with traffic safety devices.

The DPWH-NCR office has deployed personnel for the bridge repair.

Shoring and sand-filling operations of the eroded portions of the bridge have been conducted.

The DPWH has also installed traffic safety devices and patched the collapsed part of the ramp, and urged motorists to drive slowly through the area or may find another route.