By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered the immediate restoration of the fire-damaged Culiat Bridge in Quezon City, directing the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to expedite inspections and rehabilitation work to bring the vital roadway back into service.
DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon said the President instructed the agency to promptly determine the extent of the structural damage and implement the necessary repairs while ensuring the bridge remains safe for public use.
Engineers from the DPWH have already completed an initial site inspection and joined forces with the Quezon City government, headed by Mayor Joy Belmonte, in clearing debris left by the blaze that struck the bridge over the weekend.
As part of the immediate response, the agency will repair sections of the bridge where the intense heat caused the asphalt surface to buckle and lift. A comprehensive engineering evaluation is also underway to identify any structural damage that must be addressed before traffic can resume.
Dizon said the government is balancing the need to reopen the bridge quickly with the responsibility of ensuring that it meets safety standards for motorists.
The Culiat Bridge has remained off-limits to vehicles since Saturday after a fire damaged portions of the structure, prompting authorities to temporarily shut it down while inspection and rehabilitation efforts continue.
ia/xf
