A new and longer San Juanico Bridge in Eastern Visayas is now under preparation, according to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) on Wednesday.
DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan said that the ongoing major rehabilitation works on the existing San Juanico Bridge prompted the government to pursue a new bridge project, which will span approximately 2.6 kilometers.
"The new bridge is now under preparation. In fact, this will be one of the flagship projects under this administration and ito po ay mapi-finance ng Japanese government," Bonoan said in a press briefing.
"It's now under detailed engineering design, we hope that the detailed engineering design will be completed by 2026 and thereafter, the construction will follow immediately," he added.
The original San Juanico Bridge was constructed in 1969 during the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. It spans 2.16 kilometers and remains a vital economic and transport link between the islands of Samar and Leyte.
Previously, a three-ton weight limit was imposed on the existing structure after engineers raised concerns about its load-bearing capacity.
A San Juanico Task Group (SJTG) was also formed to coordinate security, traffic flow, and safety protocols for the bridge.
Bonoan also said the DPWH is working closely with local government units, the Philippine Ports Authority, and the Philippine National Police to manage traffic in the area.
"'Yung passengers [who] have to cross the bridge, unfortunately they will have to stop on one end and they will transfer to another—to the same bus company on the other end. Pero ‘yung transport po, ang passengers are being shuttled free of charge. So, ito po 'yung arrangements for the time being," he added.
DPWH is set to implement immediate retrofitting works on the bridge, which are expected to take three to four months.
The DPWH chief said that the weight limit on the San Juanico Bridge may increase to a maximum of 10 tons by the last quarter of 2025, once the retrofitting of key segments is completed.
