Two key bridges following the October 15, 2013 earthquake that hit the Province of Bohol in Central Visayas Region are now passable to vehicular traffic. President Benigno S. Aquino III together with Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Rogelio L. Singson witnessed on Nov. 28 the restored road travel connection between municipalities of Tagbilaran to Maribojoc and Cortes, Bohol with the completion last November 23, 2013 of the 120 lineal meter modular steel bridge as temporary replacement to the damaged Abatan Bridge along Tagbilaran North Road.

DPWH completed the Abatan Bridge emergency restoration works with the installation of the modular steel bridge including approaches at a cost of P4.1 Million funded under the Disaster Related Rehabilitation Projects in the 2013 National Budget with the supply of modular steel bridging materials costing P63.4 Million. Structural integrity of the temporary replacement bridge, completed and opened to traffic on November 23, 2013, was tested as it withstood series of aftershocks from magnitude 4.0 to 6.0 including the onslaught of Typhoons “Yolanda” and “Zoraida”. With the collapsed of two (2) of six (6) spans and one (1) of five (5) piers of the old Abatan Bridge after the devastating earthquake, the DPWH is undertaking geotechnical investigation/soil exploration for the reconstruction of the permanent bridge targeted to start in April 2014 and for completion in September 2014.

After Tagbuane Bridge along Tagbilaran East Road sustained severe damages to abutments, pier and approaches, the construction of 39 lineal meter modular steel bridge as temporary replacement restored connectivity from Tagbilaran to Loay and Alburquerque, Bohol and also facilitated during the opening on November 5, 2013 the movement of people, goods, and services from Tagbilaran City to port of Jagna. Reconstruction of the permanent Tagbuane Bridge is programmed to start also in April 2014 as detailed engineering activities is anticipated to be completed by March 2014. Three other major bridges along Tagbilaran North Road namely Moalong Bridge in Loon, and Tultugan and Desamparados Bridges in Calape will be opened to vehicular traffic by first week of December 2013 as installation of temporary steel bridging components are on-going with H-Pile base support installed.