The iconic San Juanico Bridge, which connects the islands of Samar and Leyte, has reopened to two-way traffic after several months of emergency repair work, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced Friday.

The bridge, a vital economic link in Eastern Visayas, is currently operating under a temporary 15-ton load limit while full rehabilitation and retrofitting continue, with completion expected next year.

During an inspection of the bridge in Tacloban City, Marcos stressed the importance of proper and consistent maintenance for critical infrastructure to prevent socio-economic disruptions to affected communities.

“I’m very happy that I can say now it is very close to our deadline. The San Juanico Bridge is partially finished. It will be finished next year so that the bridge will be able to take again the load of 33 tons going both ways,” Marcos said.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) reported that portal shoring works, which provide temporary structural support, have been completed.

These temporary measures ensure the bridge can safely handle two-way traffic under the controlled 15-ton load while permanent strengthening continues.

The bridge was temporarily closed earlier this year after a structural inspection revealed severe damage in hidden areas, which the president attributed to decades of neglect.

Marcos had previously visited the bridge in June to oversee the government response following the emergency closure that severely disrupted transportation and trade across Eastern Visayas.

During that visit, he instructed the DPWH to raise the load limit and accelerate rehabilitation efforts.

“I hope that this is a lesson to us and of all of those in the future whose responsibility will be to look after our thoroughfares, to always remember the experience of San Juanico Bridge that if we had only maintained it, we would have saved a great deal of problems,” said the President.