New P1.8-B bridge to cross Calmay River after 90 years
A BIG BOON TO DAGUPAN
ALMOST 90 years after the Franklin Bridge was washed out by a big flood in 1935, a new bridge will soon cross the Calmay River in Dagupan City.
Groundbreaking rites for the new Calmay Bridge were held in the morning of December 20 in Barangay Calmay, led by Pangasinan Fourth District Rep. Christopher de Venecia, who was instrumental in sourcing funds to make the dream bridge possible.
“The new Calmay Bridge will definitely increase commercial activities in the two island barangays of Calmay and Carael, and can contribute to the overall economic growth of Dagupan City,” he said.
He thanked President Bongbong Marcos Jr. and House Speaker Martin Romualdez for their continued support for projects that directly benefit Dagupeños, among them were the new Dawel Bridge and elevation of major roads to address floodings in the city.
The Calmay Bridge is a component of the Pangasinan-Zambales By-Pass Diversion Road that will connect Dagupan ‘s western Barangay of Calmay to the Judge Jose de Venecia Expressway Extension in Barangay Tapuac and the city’s downtown area. Its main purpose is to unclog the usually heavy traffic along the Dagupan-Binmaley Road.
From Barangay Calmay, the by-pass diversion road goes all the way to Binmaley up to southern Lingayen, skirting the usual traffic gridlocks in the central parts of both towns.
Former Congresswoman Gina de Venecia thanked her son, Christopher, for fulfilling another dream project of his father, former Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr., by initiating the construction of the new Calmay Bridge.
“The construction of this bridge is historic because it will replace the Franklin Bridge that used to connect the island barangay of Calmay to Poblacion Oeste and the Dagupan downtown area, which was washed out by a big flood in 1935,” Rep. De Venecia said.
Mayor Belen Fernandez lauded the project because the road access from the mainland can explore the vast untapped potentials of both Carael and Calmay, since the downtown area of Dagupan is already bursting at the seams. She also described the bridge as “super ganda” based on the artist’s perspective of the structure.
The new Calmay Bridge will also be linked to the Dagupan-Mangaldan Circumferential Road that is already under construction, according to Department of Public Works and Highways Regional Director Ronnel Tan. (Leonardo Micua)
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