Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark A. Villar announced that a new bridge along San Jose – Rizal Road in San Jose City, Nueva Ecija is now open to general traffic.
Now that the Sibut Bridge is open to all types of vehicles, it should help spur the local economy and provide ease of travel between San Jose City and the town of Rizal here in Nueva Ecija, said Secretary Villar.
Built in the amount of P240 million, full access to Sibut Bridge was allowed starting January 7.
“Good news is that through this bridge, travel time is now cut to only thirty (30) minutes”, added Secretary Villar.
Secretary Villar revealed that prior to the completion of this bridge; the residents and other motorists have to go through travelling for one (1) hour and fifteen (15) minutes from San Jose City just to get to the town of Rizal.
As the existing overflow bridge is already dilapidated, the traffic during inclement weather has to be rerouted and light vehicles will have to pass through a circuitous route and cross the river through a narrow bridge in Barangay Tulat that further prolongs the travel to about an hour and fifteen minutes just to reach the town of Rizal
According to Undersecretary for Unified Project Management Office (UPMO) Operations Emil K. Sadain, Sibut Bridge is 240 meters in length, comprising eight (8) spans on seven (7) piers, and sufficient height to allow the river discharge without fear of being overtopped by flood waters.
This project is part and parcel of the long-term plans of the President Rodrigo Roa Duterte administration and DPWH Secretary Villar’s vision for an overall connectivity improvement in the countryside, said Undersecretary Sadain.
The bridge project was implemented by the DPWH UPMO Bridges Management Cluster headed by Project Director Rodrigo I. Delos Reyes.