Piggatan detour bridge in Cagayan opens

On the orders of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., the Piggatan Detour Bridge in Alcala, Cagayan, was formally opened on Friday, just 60 days after construction began. The bridge is set to restore uninterrupted traffic and public services in the province.

The inauguration was led by Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon, alongside Alcala Mayor Cristina Ignacio Antonio and Cagayan Governor Edgar Aglipay.

“We will finish this within the year,” Dizon said during a tour of the newly opened bridge.

The opening comes after President Marcos directed the DPWH to expedite the construction of a temporary detour bridge following the collapse of the Piggatan Bridge on 6 October 2025. 

The collapse occurred after trucks exceeding the bridge’s 10-ton weight limit crossed the structure, disrupting transport and agricultural activities in the region.

Dizon announced that the DPWH will implement a 24/7 traffic management scheme on the detour bridge, which can now accommodate vehicles weighing up to 40 tons. 

He emphasized that the temporary bridge will ease traffic while the main Piggatan Bridge undergoes rebuilding.

Mayor Antonio and Governor Aglipay welcomed the opening, noting that the bridge is vital for local residents’ livelihoods, public services, and agricultural transport.

Palace said the detour bridge, constructed in just two months, is part of the government’s broader effort to ensure safe and reliable infrastructure while minimizing disruption to communities.