Motorists and commuters going to and from Bicol Region will have to follow a rerouting scheme with the construction of a bridge along Daang Maharlika in Pili, Camarines Sur.
The old two-lane San Jose Bridge in Barangay San Jose, Pili, Camarines Sur was closed to vehicular traffic on February 15, 2014 for the replacement works.
Earlier, DPWH Camarines Sur 2nd District Engineering Office reported to Secretary Rogelio L. Singson that traffic advisories were installed along Daang Maharlika to inform the general public of the bridge closure including the recommended alternate routes as agreed with the concerned local officials.
Under the traffic management plan for the construction of the new San Jose bridge, three (3) routes were identified namely: San Fernando–Minalabac–Bula–Pili Road; Milaor–Minalabac–Pili Road; and Palestina–Minalabac–Pili Road.
Open to all type of vehicles, the San Fernando–Minalabac–Bula–Pili Road starts from the intersection of Daang Maharlika at K0427+000 traversing Barangays Grijalvo, Beberon, Lupi (Municipality of San Fernando); Barangays Antipolo, Hobo (Municipality of Minalabac); Barangays Sto. Nino, Ombao, Panoypoyan, San Roque, Sto. Domigo (Municipality of Bula); out to junction of Daang Maharlika at K0454+200, Pawili (Municipality of Pili, Camarines Sur), and vice- versa.
On the otherhand, the Milaor–Minalabac–Pili Road allows access of light vehicles only due to a 100 lineal meter one-lane road section in Malitbog. The alternate route starts from the intersection of Daang Maharlika at K0432+900 passing Barangays Amparado, Borongborongan (Municipality of Milaor); Barangays San Francisco, Malitbog, Mataoroc (Municipality of Minalabac); and Barangays Tagbong, out to the junction of Daang Maharlika at K0450+900, San Isidro (Municipality of Pili, Camarines Sur), and vice-versa.
Also limited to light vehicles only due to the one-lane road section in Malitbog, the Palestina–Minalabac–Pili Road runs from the intersection of Daang Maharlika at K0443+500 to Barangays Palestina, San Antonio of Municipality of Pili; Barangay Maydaso ( Municipality of Milaor); Barangays Malitbog, Mataoroc of (Municipality of Minalabac); Barangay Tagbong, out to the junction of San Isidro(K0450+900) (Municipality of Pili, Camarines Sur), and vice- versa.
In line with the policy to build back better resilient structures, the old two-lane bridge will be expanded into four-lanes with a total length of 65.25 lineal meters and with a width of 16.84 lineal meters.
With a total cost of P82.577 Million, the bridge project will be completed within the construction period of 280 calendar days