2 completed bridges in La Union reduce travel time, improve access
ONE of the newly completed bridges in Bangar, La Union. (DepEd Region 1 FB)
MALASIQUI, Pangasinan – The newly widened Luzong Sur Bridge and San Blas Bridge along Manila North Road in Bangar, La Union, will reduce travel time and improve access to motorists and residents in the town.
Department of Education (DepEd) Division Engineer of Schools Division of La Union Jerwin Flores, in a statement on Wednesday, said the Luzong Sur Bridge project, funded with P27.8 million from the General Appropriations Act of 2025, widened the bridge and provided safer travel for students from northern La Union.
"The construction of this road improves connectivity and accessibility within the community. By reducing travel time and transportation challenges, the road helps ensure that learners can attend school regularly and safely. The project also supports community development by making it easier for people and goods to move, improving both access to education and quality of life," he said.
The San Blas Bridge was funded with P19.5 million, covering the construction of a four-lane single-span flat slab bridge and necessary slope protection structures.
Flores said the primary objective of the construction of the San Blas Bridge is to improve the hydraulic capacity of the cross-drainage systems on the Manila North Road in Bangar.
"In addition to alleviating flooding, the San Blas Bridge is designed to optimize traffic flow by expanding the highway's capacity," he said.
Its roadway infrastructure was upgraded to accommodate four lanes, as well as improvements in drainage capacity and highway expansion, benefiting a nearby school and facilities within the area, such as the Doña Francisca Lacsamana de Ortega Memorial National High School.
DepEd Undersecretary Mel John Versoza, officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways, and provincial and local government units inspected the newly widened bridges on Wednesday morning. (PNA)