Panguil Bay Bridge that links the provinces of Lanao del Norte and Misamis Occidental (Photo courtesy of Project Lupad)
THE P8.026 billion Panguil Bay Bridge, a project of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), has officially opened, connecting Tangub City in Misamis Occidental and Tubod town in Lanao del Norte.
Construction began on February 28, 2020, and was completed this month.
This two-way, two-lane bridge will drastically reduce travel time between the two provinces, cutting it down to just seven minutes from over two hours. Previously, travelers faced a journey of at least 2.5 hours via Roll-On, Roll Off (RoRo) vessels from Ozamiz to Mucas in Lanao del Norte or a 100-kilometer route via Tangub-Molave-Tubod road or Tangub-Kapatagan-Tubod road.
The Panguil Bay Bridge is expected to transform transportation in the region, connecting coastal areas and facilitating 24/7 mobility of people, goods, and services. This will contribute to significant economic growth in the surrounding areas.
The bridge features a 360-meter approach road leading to a 1,020-meter approach bridge on the Tangub City side, and a 569-meter approach road connecting to a 900-meter approach bridge on the Tubod side.
A key feature is the extra-dosed main bridge, boasting a 320-meter central span supported by two 20-meter tall pylons. It is anchored by six cable stays and complemented by a lighting system, providing structural support and enhancing bridge aesthetics for nighttime travel.
The project utilized advanced Korean bridge technology, including reverse circulation drilling on barges for borehole creation and launching of thick permanent steel casings using revolving crane barges and vibro pile hammers.
Funded through a loan agreement signed between the Philippine government and the Korean Export-Import Bank in 2016, the Panguil Bay Bridge is one of the 198 high-impact priority infrastructure flagship projects under the Marcos administration’s “Build, Better, More” program.
