Kalaklan Lighthouse Bridge Closure

A little more than two weeks from now, the Kalaklan Lighthouse Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic. Are we ready to cope with the expected traffic congestion?

As early as May 2009, the Subic Chamber had started informing its members about the potential problems that the closure and construction of a new bridge will bring about. Albeit at that time, there were no specific dates yet, and the demolition and construction of the Main Gate Bridge was still in the equation.

Last December 8, 2009, SBMA provided information to the Chamber related to the “Milestones for the Implementation for the Construction of New Kalaklan Bridge and Security Plaza Project.” By end of the same day, the Chamber mass-emailed to its members the information.

With the fast approaching Christmas season, priorities are understandably into other things and the issue of traffic congestion due to the bridge closure has not surfaced over the entire span of the holidays.

It is not hard to comprehend the debilitating effects of traffic gridlock to business and individuals both. Something must be done, and soon. Right after the New Year, the Chamber sent invitation letters to various stakeholders for a multi-sector meeting. On January 12, during the meeting, things came to light, and collaborative planning developed.

The existing bridge is already more than 60 years old, is already a safety hazard because of weakened structural components, and needs to be replaced. The new bridge will be constructed offset from the old; the latter will be closed to vehicular traffic on 15 February and to pedestrians on March 1 [Note: recently updated to June 15]; and that the new bridge is expected to be completed by the first week of January in 2011. The new bridge will have two lanes and the span of the middle columns will be 22 meters and will have a height of 5-7 meters, depending on the tide — wide and high enough for a dredging boat and for basnigs (big bancas with outriggers) expected to ply the river when the Olongapo fish port in Banicain becomes operational.

To mitigate traffic congestion, SBMA will be posting additional traffic personnel near the two remaining “vehicle-capable” bridges — the Rizal and the 14th Street Bridge. Olongapo City will be distributing traffic volume through rerouting. They have also requested additional personnel from SBMA to help them manage the traffic situation. Directional signs will be posted in the appropriate places.

Businesses are requested to become familiar with the truck ban schedules (see Chamber Online Forum for details) so that the trucks they own, and the delivery trucks of their suppliers can schedule deliveries at times that will not cause additional traffic congestion.

Back to the original question: Are we ready to cope with the expected traffic congestion? Yes we are! Well, maybe not completely… but, the willingness of various sectors to work together is as good an indication that we can confront problems in the face and get the better of it.

In the March 2009 issue of the Chamber newsletter, I wrote an article entitled Freeportopia primarily discussing about working together and building relationships that are mutually beneficial. A little less than a year later, SBMA/SBFCC working groups were formed, there is now closer ties with the City of Olongapo, and we now have MOUs with other business groups around the area, particularly MOCCI and GSBTB. The collaboration between these organizations and agencies in the current issue that we are all facing — the Kalaklan Lighthouse Bridge closure — is proof-positive that a potential for joint action can be achieved by bringing people together.