Ruins of Franklin bridge to be preserved, DPWH assures
THE contractor building the P906-million new Pantal Bridge will leave the remnants of the old Franklin Bridge that used to span across the Calmay River until it was destroyed by a big flood in 1935, untouched.
This assurance was made by Department of Public Works and Highways regional director Fidel Ginez following a letter he received from the city government appealing that the ruins of the old Franklin Bridge be spared.
The remnant of the old Franklin Bridge, which was part of the original Dagupan-Binmaley-Lingayen road, was declared one of the heritage sites in Dagupan City.
Ginez said he already asked Toyo Construction to spare the ruins of the old bridge on account of its big historical significance to Dagupan City and its people.
Straddling several meters from the bank of the Calmay River, the ruins of the bridge was preserved for generations as a reminder of the destruction wrought by the 1935 destructive flood.
The new Pantal Bridge is being constructed in an area where the Pantal and Calmay rivers meet.
The flood of 1935 also obliterated from the map the Dominican-run San Albertus Magnus College, which stood on the right side of the Franklin Bridge at its western end.
The Franklin Bridge and the school were never reconstructed after the flood.
Share your Comments or Reactions
Powered by Facebook Comments