NEW KALAKLAN LIGHTHOUSE BRIDGE OPENS JULY 11

The new Kalaklan-Lighthouse Bridge will be opened to motorists and pedestrians starting July 11 after more than a year since construction began in June 2010, the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) has announced.

”Ang pagbubukas ng bagong Kalaklan Bridge ay malaking tulong sa publiko – mga empleyado at estudyante kasama na ang mga turista at dumaraang motorista mula sa ibang bahagi ng Luzon,” according to Mayor James “Bong” Gordon Jr.

The new two-lane bridge replaces the some 50-year old span built by the US Navy in the 1960’s which served as a gateway to and from the province of Zambales. It is one of the four bridges connecting the freeport zone to Olongapo City.

An average of two thousand five hundred (2,500) vehicles and some three hundred (300) pedestrians, according to SBMA, pass through the Bridge every day before it was totally closed to pave the way for the construction of its replacement.

The ensuing rerouting of all vehicles through the Olongapo City proper resulted to heavy traffic in its main thoroughfares, especially during the morning and afternoon rush hours.

Pao/fr