Widening of the San Francisco Bridge along Concepcion-Capas Road in Tarlac is in full swing with the construction of a 300.80-lineal meter parallel bridge.

The multi-year bridge widening project implemented by Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Region III Construction Division has a total accomplishment rate of 95.97 percent, based on the total funds released as of September 30.

DPWH Regional Director Roseller Tolentino disclosed that as reported in the agency’s 2021 Road Traffic Data, an estimated 14,689 vehicles cross the San Francisco Bridge daily and the structure often creates traffic in the area. 

“Vehicles traveling on the four-lane Concepcion-Capas Road have to queue just to cross the two-lane bridge causing a mobility bottleneck,” the official said.

Project started in 2019 after its initial fund of P110 million was released for the construction of the parallel bridge substructure consisting of 14 bored piles and seven coping beams, approach slabs, and the partial construction of six steel girders with a 50-meter span length.

In 2020, implementation of the bridge widening project was temporarily delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Civil works resumed in 2021 with the release of P146 million from the national budget for the completion of the remaining 12 steel girders, partial completion of the first three-span continuous deck slab, and construction of slope protection at the bridge abutment “A”.

“For this year, P48.25 million was released for the completion of the second three-span continuous bridge deck slab and for partial completion of the bridge wearing course with water-proofing as well as the construction of slope protection structures at the abutment ‘B’ of the bridge,” Tolentino furthered.

DPWH proposed the allocation of the necessary funds for the full completion of the structure through the 2023 national budget.

“We still need to construct the bridge roadway approaches, install safety devices such as cable restrainers and pavement markings, as well as complete the remaining concrete wearing course for the bridge deck,” Tolentino said.

Meanwhile, the construction of a new bypass road that will give motorists faster access between Tarlac and Pampanga is also underway.

Concepcion-Mabalacat Bypass Road project received an initial allocation of P105.6 million in the 2022 national budget for the opening of 9,901.28 lineal meters of roads starting on the Tarlac side. (PIA 3)