NATION

DPWH orders stricter Atugan Bridge travel rules

Cheng Ordoñez

Bukidnon Province — Motorists traveling along the Sayre Highway in Impasug-ong, Bukidnon should expect stricter safety measures at the Atugan Bridge, effective Wednesday, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) announced.

The heightened precautions follow a recent slip-collapse incident along a section of the Bukidnon-Davao (BuDa) Highway in Quezon, Bukidnon, prompting engineers to increase monitoring of the Atugan Bridge while awaiting funding for scheduled retrofitting works.

Under the new travel advisory, light vehicles weighing up to five tons or with six wheels and below are permitted to use both lanes of the bridge without restriction.

However, heavy vehicles will be subject to inspection by traffic personnel to check for overloading before being allowed to cross.

The Impasug-ong-Patulangan Bypass Road remains open as an alternate route, but its use is strictly limited to light vehicles with a maximum gross weight of five tons.

To ensure smooth traffic flow and compliance with the new scheme, the DPWH Bukidnon 1st District Engineering Office has deployed safety and traffic management personnel and installed additional signages and barriers in strategic areas.

Authorities are urging the public to cooperate with the implemented measures and plan their trips accordingly as safety monitoring continues.