The Department of Public Works and Highways – National Capital Region on Wednesday said that the fire that broke out in Barangay Balon-Bato, Quezon City early Wednesday morning could have damaged a portion of the Balintawak Interchange Bridge that was above the community where the blaze struck.

A team from DPWH-NCR went to the affected area to inspect the bridge structure, saying that the fire may have brought damages to the bridge that was retrofitted in 2015.

The said bridge provides access to motorists entering and leaving Quirino Highway in Quezon City and is situated on the border of Barangays Balon-Bato and Unang Sigaw.

“A detailed engineering investigation will be conducted to further assess the concrete’s compressive strength,” DPWH-NCR said in a statement.

The agency said that while the bridge is still ‘structurally sound,’ they have encouraged heavy vehicles not to pass through the bridge temporarily while the investigation is ongoing. Light vehicles could still pass the bridge, said the DPWH-NCR.

The blaze in houses under the bridge in Quezon City was raised up to the fourth alarm between 4:20 and 5:10 in the morning, but was put under control around 7:41 in the morning; eventually, put off more than 25 minutes later.

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