LAOAG CITY—The closure of the Cauplasan Bridge in Dingras, along the Ilocos Norte-Apayao Road, originally set to end on August 31, has been extended to September 30 to accommodate ongoing repairs exacerbated by recent bad weather.
According to the Philippines News Agency, James Ferrer from the Ilocos Norte 2nd District Engineering Office announced the extension on Monday, citing adverse weather conditions that have delayed progress. The bridge, which has been a critical artery for over 50 years, is undergoing significant repairs funded by the Department of Public Works and Highways with a budget of PHP 5 million, an initiative supported by Senator Imee Marcos and the provincial government.
While the bridge remains accessible to light vehicles weighing up to six tons, heavy vehicles are directed to alternate routes including the Sarrat Bridge, C-5 Road, and the Laoag-Sarrat-Piddig-Solsona Road to and from Solsona town. Motorists are urged to heed the traffic signages installed to guide them during the repair period.