Dawel Bridge finally opens both lanes

By October 9, 2022Top Stories

MOTORISTS and commuters travelling to and from Bonuan district no longer have to suffer time delay following the opening of both lanes of the Dawel Bridge last Wednesday

However, only light vehicles are allowed to cross the bridge while trucks with heavy loads are still banned and will continue to be diverted to Mangaldan in the east.

The bridge that only allowed on-lane access to cross for two months was reopened after completing the retrofitting of a sector under the bridge by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

This bridge sustained damages in its support structure following a Magnitude 4 earthquake that rocked Dagupan City on July 27 this year.

The completion of retrofitting was timely in the face of increased volume of commuters due to the start of partial face-to-face classes in September, and scheduled to implement full face-to-face classes in November.

Second Pangasinan District Engineer Edita Manuel said the contractor originally targeted the retrofitting to be done in three months but was asked to expedite its work in two months.

The Dawel Bridge was built in 1974 during the administration of then Mayor Cipriano Manaois. It replaced an old bailey bridge that spanned across the Dawel River built by the  Allied liberation forces after landing at the beaches of the Lingayen Gulf on January 9, 1945.

Eng. Manuel told the Sangguniang Panlungsod earlier that a sturdier and more permanent bridge, consisting of four lanes, will be built perpendicular to the Dawel Bridge beginning 2024.  (Leonardo Micua)

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