The historic pre-World War II 420-meters Kalibo Bridge will continue to serve Aklanons well into the future as its serviceability is extended with its retrofitting, says Kalibo Mayor Raymar Rebaldo.
The retrofitting started last March 29, 2007. Its projected completion was on October 28, 2008. But due to suspension and extension of projects, the new projected completion date is on August 12, 2010.
The retrofitting has a budget allocation in 2007 of Php 47 million and the contractor has a bid price of only Php 37 million to complete the project, according to DPWH District Engr. Roberto Cabigas.
SB member Lillian Tirol, in an interview with Ka-Tribu Radyo, pointed out that the Kalibo Bridge is not only the lifeline between the towns of Kalibo and Numancia but of the Eastern and Western side of Aklan including the Strong Republic Nautical Highway.
Retrofitting is an engineering technique to reinforce old bridges to extend its serviceability and make it possible to with-stand or survive extreme elements such as earthquake, heavy torrents and floods.
One Kalibo resident recalls stories told him by his grandfolks about how the Japanese warplanes in World War II tried to bring the bridge down with bombs but instead of hitting it, the bombs exploded in rice fields two towns away. /MP
No comments:
Post a Comment