MMDA tears down 'leaning' makeshift Tullahan bridge

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority has finally demolished the leaning wooden pedestrian bridge near the down stream portion of the Tullahan river in Valenzuela City, MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando announced Wednesday. Fernando said the structure was torn down despite strong objection from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). According to Fernando, the bridge was severely damaged and should be knocked down to prevent accident. The DPWH is currently undertaking the reconstruction of a permanent structure that will replace the damaged Tullahan bridge on Mac Arthur Highway in Valenzuela City and Malabon. Two temporary bridges made of coconut lumber were built for pedestrians’ use but one of the structures gave way to strong current, prompting the DPWH to replace it with a steel bridge. Fernande said strong current left the other pedestrian bridge tilted and has posed danger to pedestrians. The MMDA chief has repeatedly called on the DPWH-National Capital Region (NCR) to tear down the damaged structure and construct another pedestrian steel bridge similar to the one built at the upstream portion of the river. Earlier, the DPWH had replaced the damaged bridge at the upstream portion with a steel pedestrian bridge at a staggering cost of P2.4-million. GMANews.TV