ISABELA — A section of the newly completed Cabagan-Sta. Maria Bridge in Isabela collapsed on the evening of 27 February 2025, after a heavily loaded dump truck passed over it, according to an official statement from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Regional Office II.

The incident occurred around 8:00 PM when the third span of the bridge, located 60 meters from the Cabagan side, gave way under the weight of a truck carrying boulders. The truck’s gross vehicle weight (GVW) was estimated at approximately 102 tons, raising concerns about possible overloading beyond the bridge’s capacity.

The bridge, a vital infrastructure project connecting Cabagan and Sta. Maria in Isabela, was only recently completed on 1 February 2025, after more than a decade of construction that began in November 2014. Built at a cost of P1.2 billion, it spans 990 meters and features 12 arch bridge sections and nine spans of Pre-Stressed Concrete Girder (PSCG) Type IVB. The project was handled by R.D. Interior, Jr. Construction.

Authorities from DPWH Region II are conducting an in-depth investigation into the cause of the collapse. Experts from the Bureau of Design and the Bureau of Construction in the DPWH Central Office have been requested to assist in further evaluation and assessment.

Meanwhile, motorists and residents in the area are advised to take alternate routes as repairs and further assessments are underway.