Mayor links Marikina bridge cracks to ongoing gov't project nearby

Cracks have been spotted in a portion of Marikina's main bridge which Marikina Mayor Marcelino Teodoro believes was due to the failure of the contractor of a nearby government project to follow proper construction procedures.

“Nakita natin ang dahilan ay maari yung construction methodology na isanasagawa ng contractor, hindi nasunod yung tamang procedure,” Marcelino said in an interview on GMA News’ Unang Balita.

(We are seeing that the possible reason is the contractor's construction methodology did not follow the right procedure.)

He said the contractor of the ongoing construction project of the Department of Public Works and Highways - National Capital Region (DPWH) near the bridge did not place sheet piles in some parts of the area.

“Dapat naglalagay sila ng permanent sheet pile pero nakita na may bahagi na hindi nalagyan ng permanent sheet pile,” he said.

(They should place permanent sheet piles but we saw that there are some portions where they did not.)

“Kaya doon pumasok 'yung tubig noong nakaraang linggo dahil sa tuloy-tuloy nga ang pag-ulan, dahil may low pressure area tayo, at yun ang naging sanhi ng pagguho ng lupa doon sa pundasyon ng approach ng Marikina bridge,” he added.

(That is where the rainwater penetrated the structure last week because of the continuous rainfall due to the low pressure area, and that was the cause of the soil erosion in the foundation of the Marikina bridge.)

Teodoro said he suspended indefinitely the ongoing construction projects of the DPWH-NCR near the bridge until the concerns are settled.

According to Teodoro, the bridge is already 40 years old but has undergone some retrofitting and assessment by the DPWH.

The affected portion of the bridge has been closed to traffic except for light vehicles, according to Teodoro.

In a statement, the DPWH-NCR said its emergency inspectorate team has been dispatched immediately to conduct geotechnical investigation for immediate measures.

“Traffic safety devices with warning/informative signages were installed in the rightmost lane (Cubao Bound) of the Bridge Approach to enclose it from the traveling public. The Office immediately conducted shoring and sand filling activities on the eroded part of the bridge approach,” it said.

Interviewed on Super Radyo dzBB, DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan said they are currently discussing the possibility of suspending the concerned contractor.

"Pinag-uusapan pa. Kailangan pag-usapan kasi it will take some time para makahanap ng ibang contractor," he said.

(We're discussing it. There is a need to discuss it because it will take some time to look for another contractor.)

Bonoan also clarified that the cracks were not on the bridge itself but on the "approach."

"Hindi 'yung tulay ang may diperensya, 'yung approach lang [It's not the bridge that has a problem but only the approach]," he said. —KBK, GMA Integrated News