The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) inspected the structural integrity of bridges on the major roads in Nueva Ecija.

District Engineer Elpidio Trinidad, DPWH-Nueva Ecija 2nd District Engineering Office chief, on Wednesday cited the importance of checking the condition of bridges considering that most of these structures were built decades ago.

Trinidad said the move was in support of efforts for disaster preparedness and response mechanisms.

“Remember that most of the bridges were built decades ago so it is necessary to determine which of these structures will require extensive repair and rehabilitation to restore them to their full operational capacity and extend their service life,” he said in a statement.

Among those assessed were Baluarte Bridge 1 and 2, Cababao Bridge, Doña Josefa Bridge, Malimba Bridge in Gapan City, and the Tablang Bridge in Palayan City.

Trinidad said they also checked the ongoing repair and maintenance works on San Juan Bridge 3 and Bato Ferry Bridge in Laur, Sta. Rosa Bridge in Sta. Rosa, and the widening of the Cabu Bridge detour in Cabanatuan City.

Meanwhile, DPWH-Nueva Ecija Assistant District Engineer Robert Jay Panaligan said they will continue to do load capacity evaluations on existing bridges on national roads to determine if the bridge load ratings are up to date based on their current condition.

Panaligan said the DPWH also prioritizes the continuous improvement and maintenance of the road networks and bridges to preserve their structural integrity and prolong service life. (PNA)