New Clarin Bridge in Bohol will open June 7, 2022

About a month ago, the old Clarin Bridge in Bohol collapsed and killed 4 individuals after their vehicles fell into the Loboc River. The bridge itself was already 50 years old and was severely affected by the 7.2-magnitude earthquake that shook Bohol in 2013.

Fast forward to the present day, and the replacement for the decades-old bridge is set to be fully opened to the public next month. This was confirmed by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) after the agency announced that they are looking to finish paving the access ramps for the new Clarin Bridge.

In his report to DPWH Secretary Roger G. Mercado, Undersecretary and Build Build Build Chief Implementer Emil K. Sadain shared that construction of the approach road for the new Clarin Bridge has reached its final stage with the ongoing laying of asphalt concrete finish.

Sadain personally inspected the construction site of the new Clarin Bridge last May 25 and reported that everything was going well with the asphalt paving for the approaches. In addition, the DPWH is also busy putting up concrete guardrails and lighting works before the two-way bridge is opened to the public.

The Clarin Bridge Replacement Project, which costs PHP 462 million, is part of the Bohol Circumferential Road Contract Package 3 under the DPWH Road Upgrading and Preservation Projects (RUPP). It's funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Loan Agreement No. PH-P247.

With the new bridge set to be opened by June 7, 2022, Sadain said that all equipment and personnel are in full-force working double-time to open the bridge to two-way traffic on time.

Combined with relatively favorable weather conditions, all minor corrections and compaction of the base road before the final asphalt overlay of the approach road is targetted for completion by June 7 next month.