The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is conducting repair works on San Juanico Bridge to ensure its structural integrity.

The rehabilitation works involve the tightening of high-tension bolts and painting works on structural steel, DPWH Region 8 Director Allan Borromeo said in a news release on Monday.

The bridge that connects the islands of Leyte and Samar remains passable despite the ongoing works, which are expected to be completed by December.

The repair works started in March and cost PHP84.7 million.

A major repair is necessary to ensure the safety of motorists and other daily road users as the bridge is nearly 50 years old, Borromeo said.

The DPWH Bureau of Design and Bureau of Research and Standards has conducted the evaluation, which involved non-destructive testing (NDT) for detailed bridge condition, corrosion inspection, and monitoring of bridge steel components.

“NDT testing is done to check the compressive strength and other properties of concrete from the existing structure, establish baseline structural condition, and to identify any existing problem that may cause problems in the future,” Borromeo said.

San Juanico Bridge is 2.16 kilometers long and 10.6 meters wide.

Its construction started in 1969 and was completed in 1973. (PNA)