Floridablanca bridge, Mega Dike road may be opened to traffic on Wednesday —Villar

Two major infrastructures in Pampanga damaged by the April 22 Luzon quake may be re-opened to traffic on Wednesday, Public Works Secretary Mark Villar said in an interview on Unang Balita.

The Consuelo bridge in Floridablanca and the Mega Dike Access Road are expected to be opened within the day, while the Sasmuan-Lubao bridge, also in Pampanga, is expected to be opened on Thursday.

"Yung Consuelo bridge sa Floridablanca, nagkaroon ng damage, hindi siya passable. Pero expectation namin by today magiging passable na siya," Villar said.

"May dalawa pa, yung Sasmuan-Lubao Road at yung Mega Dike. Ang expectation namin yung Mega Dike by today magagamit na, yung Sasmuan by tomorrow magagamit na yung road."

On Tuesday, a day after the magnitude 6.1 earthquake, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) deployed personnel trained in earthquake assessment to Pampanga to make sure motorists are not put in harm's way.

The Consuelo bridge and the Sasmuan-Lubao bridge were cordoned off.

The Consuelo bridge, mainly used by motorists going to and from Bataan, became unsafe to cross due to the damage left on its tarmac as well as the concrete that was holding it up.

The Sasmuan-Lubao bridge was likewise deemed unsafe for motorists as some of its posts, wheelguards and road shoulders were damaged by the quake.

Villar said DPWH personnel have already inspected some 133 structures and that inspection will continue on Wednesday.

"So far almost more than 133 structures have already been inspected by the DPWH. Pero tuloy-tuloy ang inspection," he said.

The earthquake's epicenter was recorded 18 kilometers northeast of Castillejos, Zambales but it was powerful enough to frighten residents from Zambales all the way to Metro Manila. —KBK, GMA News