DPWH announces near completion of vital bridge in Burauen-Albuera roadproject

The P18 million Balagnon Bridge in the Burauen-Albuera road project is nearing completion, the Second Leyte Engineering District of the Department of Public Works and Highways disclosed. Second LED District Engineer Carlos Veloso disclosed his latest inspection showed that the bridge is now 95% complete.

DE Veloso said the Balagnon Bridge, which runs the length of 40 meters, is one of the three bridges in the Burauen side of the road project. The other two are the Matagara Bridge, which is now passable through a spillway, and the Libas Bridge which would cost the project around P21.2 million, will be started once the Balagnon Bridge is fully completed.

Engr. Veloso earlier disclosed that he intends to finish the Burauen section of the Burauen-Albuera road, possibly before the year ends.

“This is an important project since it would cut travel time as well as open up new possibilities for the barangays along these areas in Burauen,” Engr. Veloso said. According to the DPWH DE, the Burauen-Albuera link may be fully realized in 2016 for as long as the central government will pour out an average of P300 million every year.

Once completed, the project will shorten travel time from Tacloban City to Ormoc City, develop upland villages, and improve the peace and order situation of rebel-infested areas, DE Veloso said. He said that motorists coming from the regional capital have to pass through eight towns to get to Ormoc City with a distance of 107 kilometers. In the new road, travelers will reach Ormoc from Tacloban by passing through five towns with a combined road length of 89 kilometers.

He added that the project will also be a shorter route from Tacloban City to Baybay City, with a difference of 30 kilometers from the existing national road. The allotment for Burauen-Albuera Road is part of the P5.08 billion infrastructure development program for the Eastern Visayas Region, DE Veloso said.