Another bridge down

By Anthony S. Allada
Another bridge in Caraga, Davao Oriental collapsed Sunday after a heavy downpour triggered by the tail-end of a cold front since Saturday brought down huge logs that rammed it.
Dennis Flores, spokesperson of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) 11, said the Caraga RCDG Bridge with a length of 255.68 l.m. in Barangay San Jose was rendered impassable after its spans 3 and 4 from approach “B” collapsed when the logs hit pier 3.
“We are have issued a traffic advisory, warnings and informative signs in the area that the bridge was closed to traffic,” Flores said,
This was the second major national bridge connecting the isolated towns of Baganga, Cateel and Boston after the Manurigao Bridge (Gov. Teodoro Palma Gil Bridge) in San Mariano, Caraga also collapsed at the height of Typhoon Pablo on December 4, 2012.
Flores said that even the the detour bridge for the downed Manurigao bridge is also impassable after as it is underwater.
“The construction of the detour bridge is ongoing while the embankment for craneway has been completed although pile driving was temporarily stopped after the crane, welding machine and delmag hammer was submerged in water,” he said.
Some major national highways rendered impassable on Sunday by floodwaters became passable yesterday after the water receded.