Passersby and motorists have expressed concern over the stability of the Batangan Bridge here after reports of noticeable vibrations when traffic builds up and heavy vehicles pass.
One sedan driver said he felt the bridge shake whenever cargo trucks and buses cross in both directions, adding that the Batangan Bridge-the busiest in the city-has become the most frequently used link across the Pulangi River because it offers the shortest and most accessible route for commuters.
The apprehension comes as the province continues to deal with the aftermath of the October 18 landslide that destroyed a large section of the Bukidnon-Davao (Buda) road in Sitio Kipolot, Barangay Palacapao, Quezon town, forcing thousands of motorists to reroute through the Valencia City-San Fernando-Talaingod route in going to and from Davao City.
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) earlier said heavy traffic has been observed along the Talaingod route, where steep terrain makes it difficult for heavily loaded trucks to pass.
Authorities have since advised truck drivers to take alternative routes, especially via Cotabato province.
City Traffic Transportation and Management Division chief Ruel Visitacion said they have deployed traffic personnel round the clock on both approaches of the new Batangan Highway before reaching the bridge to ensure smooth traffic flow.
He said traffic aides are implementing a one-by-one approach for vehicles-particularly trucks carrying sand and gravel from nearby quarry sites-to minimize pressure on the bridge.
Visitacion also said that the traffic lights along that road were temporarily disabled to allow personnel to manage traffic manually.
‘Traffic lights operate on programmed timing, but a human can assess real-time conditions and make on-the-spot decisions, especially when dealing with heavy and light vehicles converging at the Batangan Bridge,’ Visitacion said.
DPWH engineers, meanwhile, are monitoring the bridge’s structural integrity as it continues to accommodate heavier-than-usual traffic volumes due to the detours from the damaged Buda road