Old Biliran Bridge to get much-needed 'facelift'

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said that the 45-year-old bridge in Biliran, which serves as an important link to Leyte province, will undergo restoration works starting July 2021.

Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar bared on Tuesday, May 25 that the 150-meter Biliran Bridge "can no longer accommodate large, heavy vehicles and cargoes due to its present condition". Thus, it needs to go rehabilitation, he said.

The rehabilitation will have a P50-million budget, Villar added.

The restoration works will involve fixing the bearings of the bridge, repair of the bridge deck, replacement of bolts, de-rusting, repainting and retrofitting of the bridge girder using carbon fiber plate, and construction of a field office for the maintenance crew under the bridge.

“Apart from securing the safety and convenience of travelers and residents, we are also preserving the historical significance of the existing bridge,” Villar said.

Inaugurated in 1976, the 150-meter long Biliran Bridge is the island province's sole land access to mainland Leyte.