Pampanga steel flyover reopens 

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) reopened on Tuesday the P38-million modular steel flyover at the intersection of Lazatin Avenue and Jose Abad Santos Avenue (formerly Gapan-San Fernando-Olongapo Road) in San Fernando City, Pampanga, according to a report by Philippine News Agency.

DPWH Senior Undersecretary Emil Sadain conducted the final safety checking of the Lazatin steel flyover before reopening to light vehicles only, or those not exceeding 20 tons and 2.75 meters in vertical clearance.

The flyover was closed to traffic since Feb. 11, 2023. It was dismantled to undergo the replacement of the 45 pieces of prefabricated segmental slabs that deteriorated due to the passage of overloaded vehicles.

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“It is high time the law against overloading is strictly implemented as it prematurely deteriorates our roads and bridges, including flyovers, and put the safety of other motorists in jeopardy,” Sadain said in a statement.

He said buses and trucks and other heavy vehicles are prohibited from using the flyover to prolong the service life of the structure.

An overhead gantry with solar lighting was installed on both approaches of the flyover to strictly implement the exclusive use of light vehicles.

Sadain said composite girder with asphalt or prefabricated segmental slabs were utilized to rebuild the flyover faster.

The Lazatin flyover is a two-lane, 7.5-meter wide and 195 linear-meter long-modular steel flyover that will ease the traffic congestion along Lazatin Avenue and Jose Abad Santos Avenue intersection thereby providing a passageway from San Fernando City to Bataan, Zambales and vice versa.

Its reconstruction was completed ahead of the May 31, 2023 target opening date.