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In this country, delays aren’t just expected. They’re often considered the norm.
“An official of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), who asked not to be named, said that the scheduled completion of the Ayala Bridge repair has been moved anew to December, as the project contractors asked for the extension of the repair and retrofitting of the bridge until Dec. 23,” reports Evelyn Macairan in The Philippine Star.
The report noted: “Last June 15 — when the briged was partially opened to light vehicles — DPWH-National Capital Region director Reynaldo Tagudando said the Ayala Bridge would be made passable to heavy vehicles by September. But the source said delays in the construction caused the reopening of the structure to heavy vehicles to be moved to October.”
Ayala Bridge serves as a vital link between San Miguel and Arroceros districts in Manila.
The source added, “Materials needed for the retrofitting of the bridge are imported from Europe and these are expected to arrive on Sept. 14.”
For the record, project contractors Frey-Fil Corp. and EEI Corp. have already elevated the bridge by 70 centimeters “but still need to install cables and shock absorbers at the bottom of the structure to withstand a powerful earthquake.” The remaining work to be done on the bridge include sand blasting and repainting.
The rehabilitation of the Ayala Bridge was awarded to the contractors for PHP447.9 million.
