The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has instructed the Pangasinan 4th District Engineering Office (DEO) to set up a temporary access, or Bailey bridge, for motorists that were affected by the collapse of the Wawa Bridge in Bayambang town on Thursday, Oct. 20.
The collapse occurred after two overloaded trucks crossed the Wawa Bridge, now called Carlos P. Romulo Bridge.
According to Pangasinan Fourth (DEO) District Engineer Simplicio D. Gonzales, the bridge gas a load limit of 20 tons. The two trucks weight almost 70 tons.
Meanwhile, the DPWH Pangasinan DEO has already stationed vital warning signs near both sides of the bridge to inform motorists and pedestrians plying the route.
Tan said that in two weeks, they could open the location for limited travelers using the same route with the help of a Bailey bridge that will serve as a temporary detour for motorists passing through the Agno River.
A bailey bridge is a portable, pre-fabricated, and truss bridge used as a temporary conduit that can only accommodate limited passers.
Meantime, motorists are advised to use the following routes;
Alternate routes open to all types of vehicles can take Bayambang-San Carlos-Aguilar Road via Bocboc Bridge-Mangatarem, and vice versa; Via Carmen Junction-Manat Road (National Road), take Bayambang-Bautista-Alcala-Sto. Tomas-Carmen, Rosales Road (Manila North Road) Rosales-Tarlac, and vice versa.
Meanwhile, light vehicles can traverse the Taka Bayambang-Sn Carlos-Urbiztondo-Mangatarem, and vice versa; Bayambang-Bautista-Moncada-Camiling Road, and vice versa; and the M.H. Del Pilar, Bayambang-Urbiztondo-Mangatarem-Camiling Road vice versa.