Tagabaka bailey bridge along Butuan City - Talacogon - Loreto - Veruela - Sta. Fe National secondary road in Agusan del Sur partially collapsed due to passage of heavy loaded truck.
According to Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Region 13 Director Danilo Verzola, the bailey bridge capacity is only for five (5) tons, however, overloaded cargo trucks weighing 25 to 35 tons are passing along that route.
Trucks loaded with falcata logs are usually passing through that bridge, Verzola added.
DPWH emergency crew are now undertaking temporary repair. The bridge is expected to be opened to controlled traffic today, (21 June 2014). Meanwhile, motorcycles are allowed to pass the opened one lane of the bridge.
These overloaded trucks are even threatening the structural integrity of Wawa steel bridge along Butuan - Davao Road because their loads usually bump the bottom chord of that bridge, reported Verzola.
"Despite repeated warnings, these overloaded trucks continue not to comply," said Verzola. We even placed an outpost there, but due to the reported presence of unlawful elements in the area, we cannot guard the bridge, 24/7," he said.