TACLOBAN CITY — The iconic San Juanico Bridge will be opened to vehicles above the currently imposed maximum load limit of 3 tons starting Friday.

Leyte Governor Jericho Petilla said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is expected to arrive on Friday to conduct a final inspection and formally announce the opening of the bridge to heavier vehicles.

At the end of the Regional Development Council meeting on Tuesday, Petilla updated the media on the status of the San Juanico Bridge. Petilla chairs the RDC in Eastern Visayas.

The Department of Public Works and Highways began removing barriers on the bridge on Sunday. These barriers had restricted traffic to a single-lane, one-way flow with 10-minute intervals to accommodate weight limitations.

Since implementing the 3-ton limit, DPWH enforced the one-way scheme as a safety measure during the ongoing structural assessment and strengthening efforts.

Petilla said DPWH and RDC members conducted an inspection on Tuesday and scheduled testing on Wednesday for vehicles weighing up to 15 tons.

The DPWH conducted a five-hour dry run for the 15-ton load limit on the San Juanico Bridge, allowing two-way traffic from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday.

During the dry run, all vehicles weighing 15 tons or less were allowed to pass while maintaining a speed limit of 30 kph.

“This activity is part of the continuing preparatory works to support the planned increase in allowable vehicle load on the bridge,” the DPWH said in its advisory.

Petilla, however, said the exact maximum allowable weight will be formally announced by the President.

President Marcos earlier directed DPWH to ensure that the bridge would be opened to heavier vehicles by December.