📋 Tender Overview
Motorists are once again crossing the fortified First Plaridel-Pulilan bridge after being subjected by the Department of Public Works and Highways or DPWH to retrofitting. According to DPWH First Bulacan District Engineer Henry Alcantara this is part of the agencys Seismic Reduction and Resiliency program to ensure the integrity of older structures in the country such as bridges. The bridge was rebuilt in 1946 with the help of funds from the Philippine Rehabilitation Act passed by the US Congress. This bridge was among those destroyed during World War II. The First Plaridel-Pulilan bridge crossing the Angat river is located on the border of the towns of Plaridel and Pulilan. These are two lines that cross the section of Daang Maharlika and one of the three routes in Bulacan that lead to the northeast of Bulacan.With a budget of 46.8 million pesos spent on it structural steel painting works and structural concrete injection and crack repair methods used the retrofitting of the said bridge to repair cracks and rusty joints. Illegal residents living around and under the bridge have also been permanently evicted. This is to ensure that no one or any reason will weaken its structure such as lighting under the bridge lacking screws in the joint of the structure and avoiding people who used to live in it. To ensure that the bridge will not be accidentally cut or collapsed when a strong earthquake strikes Elastomeric Bearing Pads are also fitted to the footpaths of the bridge. It will serve as a shock absorber of the bridge following the movement whenever heavy vehicles pass by and in the event of an earthquake. The Asphaltic Plug Joint on the other hand is placed on the ascent and descent side of the bridge so that there is no loud roar or rattling in the ascent or descent of vehicles. A layer of carbon fiber coated the bottom of the slab or floor of the bridge to prevent the steel girder from getting rust and preventing the concrete from decomposing. CLJD SFV-PIA 3
