FEARFUL residents and motorists called the attention of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) regarding the eroding sub-surface foundation of two bored piles beneath the Lagnas Bridge 1 on Maharlika Highway in Bgy. Sampaloc 2, Sariaya, Quezon.
Lagnas bridge is part of the Maharlika Highway that serves as the main route between the National Capital Region and the rest of Southern Luzon by which without its service, all traffic will be diverted to Quezon Eco-Tourism Road via Rosario- San Juan Road in Batangas and Candelaria in Quezon.
Since last year, the issue has been a topic of some local radio newsmen in their programs in Quezon province following complaints by concerned citizens.
On January 4, 2023, Quezon Gov. Angelina Tan wrote a letter to Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) regional director Jovel Mendoza requesting for the immediate repair, rehabilitation or any appropriate engineering intervention of the agency on the deteriorating condition of the said bridge.
Tan made the request following an inspection conducted by personnel of the Provincial Engineering Office that found out that sub surface foundation of one of the two bored piles beneath the bridge was severely-affected by the onslaught of typhoon Paeng in October 2022.
In response to the governor’s request, the DPWH 2nd District Engineering Office under engineer Del Rosario Naca conducted inspection and eventually built gabions (cages or wirework containers filled with rock), close to the damaged foundation to prevent soil and rock erosion.
Observers claim that the action taken by Naca was just a palliative band-aid solution and it is not enough to claim safety for motorists and pedestrians.
Some say that gabions’ weakness is in the longevity of the wire basket, which may eventually rust away.
On Saturday, a group of newsmen inspected the area after receiving a series of complaints.
The group discovered that the sub-surface foundation where the other bored file rests on has been eroding after being weakend by previous floods, the latest of which was brought by severe tropical storm Kristine, which may lead to its collapse when continuously smashed by rolling boulders, and strong river current brought about by typhoons or heavy rains.
Apart from the gabions built close the first bored file, nothing was assembled beside the other, making it unprotected from possible erosion.
With this, concerned residents and motorists are also calling the attention of Quezon 2nd district Rep. David Suarez who has the jurisdiction over the area.
In 1995, the first Lagnas bridge had collapsed at the height of typhoon Rosing due to the strong river current from the upper portion of Mt. Banahaw.