CAMALANIUGAN, Cagayan – The much-awaited Mega Bridge in Cagayan linking the town of Aparri and Camalaniugan has been opened with DPWH Secretary Mark Villar leading the ceremonial groundbreaking.
During the ceremony on Friday, Villar said the P2.4-billion bridge would spur socio-economic development and increase productivity in the affected areas alleviating the living condition of the populace as well as to improve and provide direct access to and between outlying barangays, towns and provinces.
The bridge construction across Cagayan River consists of a road network with 18 spans by 55 meters at Approach A located in Aparri West side and 2 spans by 55 meters at Approach B in Camalaniugan side.
With its aesthetic design, the new iconic bridge from the Build Build Build program of Duterte’s administration is foreseen to provide tourism boost in Cagayan as it will be one of the uniquely designed bridges in the country.
Meanwhile, Cagayan Governor Manuel Mamba thanked President Duterte’s Build Build Build program for the realization of another development in the province that Cagayanos would benefit from.
On her part, Regional Director Loreta Malaluan said the Department was looking forward to provide further convenience for motorists featuring a better transport facility. Jessica Bacud
“This project is seen to be a crucial infrastructure as it will provide an alternate route, being the only bridge that crosses Cagayan River on the Northern most part of Cagayan,” Malaluan added.
It includes a 480-meter Cable Stayed Main Bridge in between consisting of 2 spans by 82.50 meters and 2 spans by 157.50 meters summing to a length of 1,580 meters. It involves the construction of bridge approaches with a length of 467 meters at Approach “A” and 119 meters at Approach “B”. Both abutments and piers rest on bored pile technology.
The Mega Bridge, under the Multi-Year Contractual Authority from FY 2018 to FY 2022, will reduce travel time between Aparri, Cagayan and Ballesteros, Cagayan from 1 hour 30 minutes to 30-45
minutes and it will benefit 6,000 travelers per day., Villar stressed.
Meanwhile, Villar also inspected the Build Back Better (BBB) dredging projects with DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu, Mamba and local officials at Barangay Bangag in Lal-lo.
The BBB is part of the Cagayan River Restoration program to mitigate massive flooding in Cagayan.
