Buntun Bridge

Coordinates: 17°36′49″N 121°41′29″E / 17.61361°N 121.69139°E / 17.61361; 121.69139

Buntun Bridge

Buntun Bridge at dusk from Tuguegarao
Carries 2 lanes of vehicular traffic; pedestrian sidewalks
Crosses Cagayan River
Locale Tuguegarao City, Cagayan (North)
Solana, Cagayan (South)
Official name Buntun Bridge
Other name(s) Talletay ta Buntun
Maintained by Department of Public Works and Highways
Characteristics
Design Steel truss bridge[1]
Material Steel, Concrete, Asphalt
Total length 1,369 m (4,491 ft)
Height 37 m (121 ft)
Clearance above 6 m (21 ft)
History
Constructed by Philippine National Construction Corporation
Construction start 1960 (Groundbreaking)[2]
Construction end 1969
Opened June 1, 1969
Statistics
Toll No

Buntun Bridge is a river bridge from Tuguegarao City proper. It is the second longest bridge in the country, trailing San Juanico Bridge, and offers an unobstructed view of the Cagayan River.[3] This 1.098 km-long bridge links Tuguegarao City to the 2nd and 3rd District Municipalities of the Cagayan Province & the Apayao Province.[4] Serving as the gateway to the provincial capital, Tuguegarao City, it is part of the Santiago-Tuguegarao Road, a major junction of the Pan-Philippine Highway.

Buntun Bridge is considered as the longest river bridge in the Philippines. It stretches from Tuguegarao City to Solana, Cagayan and spans the Cagayan River, the largest river basin in the Philippines.[5]

A popular belief is that the bridge is long enough for a person to recite the entire Philippine National Anthem while traversing.[6]

History

In 1959, President Carlos Garcia released ₱200,000 to start the construction of the bridge. The meager amount was augmented in several appropriations embodied in different Republic Acts through the initiative of 2nd District Congressman Benjamin Ligot. The ground-breaking ceremonies on December 11, 1960 was attended by President Garcia[7]

Construction

The construction was based from the original plan of ten 240-feet steel through truss spans and one 50-feet I-beam approach on each end. With the initial ₱200,000, Alonzo completed Abutment A. Pier I, footing and pedestal of Pier II.

In 1962, however, President Diosdado Macapagal took over as President and no one knew whether or not he would continue the project. Congressman Ligot convinced the President to continue the project under one AGUID Construction Company. The frequent floods have widened the river channel and caused the change of plan for the bridge to 14 240-feet Japanese steel through truss spans, one 50-feet I-beam approach on the Solana side.

When President Ferdinand Marcos came to power, the Cagayanos never doubted his concern on them and knew that finally, the bridge will be completed. Immediately, Marcos ordered Highways Secretary Antonio Raquiza to assign the bureau’s construction team led by Engineer Rogelio Talastas to Buntun Bridge. The team, under Alonzo's general supervision, went to work in full swing in May of 1968.

By May 10 the following year, the bridge was practically completed. However, the construction team was transferred to another project, leaving Alonzo to complete the painting of the landmark structure and the construction of the grouted riprap and the road approaches.[8]

See also

References

  1. ↑ De Yro, Benjie. "Buntun, the bridge 3 presidents built". NorthernForum.net. Retrieved 2016-10-29.
  2. ↑ De Yro, Benjie. "Buntun, the bridge 3 presidents built". NorthernForum.net. Retrieved 2016-10-29.
  3. ↑ http://www.txtmania.com/trivia/longest.php
  4. ↑ http://discoverph.com/activity-to-do/out-and-about/buntun-bridge-tuguegarao-city/
  5. ↑ http://lakbaypinas.ph/landmarks.aspx?city=1529&grp=Category&index=4%5B%5D
  6. ↑ http://www.dangerousroads.org/asia/philippines/6134-buntun-bridge.html
  7. ↑ De Yro, Benjie. "Buntun, the bridge 3 presidents built". NorthernForum.net. Retrieved 2016-10-29.
  8. ↑ De Yro, Benjie. "Buntun, the bridge 3 presidents built". NorthernForum.net. Retrieved 2016-10-29.


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