CALBAYOG CITY, Samar, Philippines – After 11 years in the making, the bridge that will provide an alternate route to Gandara town and improve the flow of traffic along this congested busy Maharlika Highway, is finally completed.

Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Regional Director Rolando M. Asis, Samar First District Representative Mel Senen S. Sarmiento, District Engineer Virgilio C. Eduarte, and Gandara Vice Mayor Eufemio Oliva led in the blessing and inauguration activities of the P347 -million, 140.68-meter long New Gandara Bridge along Gandara Diversion Road recently.

Done within a total of nine construction phases, the Gadara Bridge project dates back to 2000 when Phase I funding was released for the bridge foundation. Subsequent annual project allocation made possible the phase-by-phase implementation of the project by the regional DPWH office as implementing unit.

The newly finished concrete bridge is a four-span bridge, at 35 meters per span, with bored piles foundation and pre-stressed structural concrete girders, including 1.219 kilometers of Portland cement concrete pavement approaches/access road.

Completion of the bridge project was effected this year after the Samar First District Engineering Office (SFDEO) was allocated P50 million from the Regular Infrastructure Fund for the 700-meter long and 6.7-meter wide access road and bridge approaches.