CLARK FREEPORT – Due to the expected increase of vacationists going to Zambales beaches this Holy Week, the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) announced yesterday that the Kalaklan lighthouse bridge will be opened to light vehicles from April 16 to 24.
The old bridge, built by Americans at the former US naval base in Subic in the 1960’s, was closed to traffic in July last year, while a new one with a “security plaza” is under construction and is expected to be finished this July.
It was closed in July last year after it was found to have been weakened by age,
“The opening the old bridge to light vehicles would minimize traffic jams in Olongapo City and also facilitate the entry into the Subic Freeport of vehicles from Zambales during the Holy Week,” said SBMA Administrator Armand Arreza.
Arreza clarified that construction work ion the new bridge will continue in the area but designated lanes for light vehicles will be assigned for the safety of motorists.
Last January, the Kalaklan Bridge was also opened but only for pedestrians, mostly workers in the Subic Bay Freeport.
The Kalaklan lighthouse bridge, dubbed as Subic freeport’s gateway to Zambales, is one of the four bridges connecting the freeport to Olongapo City.
The bridge, along with the Freeport main gate bridge, leads to Magsaysay Drive, the city’s entertainment and business district.
Arrenza said engineers who inspected the Kalaklan bridge found structural defects in it and recommended that a new one be built. Before its, closure, the Kalaklan bridge accommodated an average of 2,500 light vehicles and some 300 pedestrians daily.
He said construction of the new bridge started last February and is expected to be completed this May. The new bridge will be a two-lane concrete structure with a covered walkway and a security plaza.
“The bridge construction project is part of SBMA’s efforts to build vital infrastructure for the planned expansion of the Subic Freeport into nearby areas, such as Olongapo City,” he added.
Meanwhile, the non-working holidays during Holy Week will be longer for folk of Tarlac City after Pres. Aquino declared April 19, Holy Tuesday, a special non-working holiday in the city in line with its 13th charter anniversary.
The Tarlac City information office announced that the non-working day edict was contained in Proclamation No.128 signed by Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa.
Pres. Aquino noted in the proclamation that “it is but fitting and proper that the residents of the City of Tarlac be given full opportunity to celebrate and participate in the occasion with appropriate ceremonies.” The proclamation was issued way back last March 22.
This, even as the Tarlac City Tourism Office announced that the activities slated for this year’s celebration have been moved to earlier dates in order to give way to the observance of Lent.
While April 19 is the date of the anniversary, the city government hold week-long festivities to commemorate this.
Among the activities slated from April 13 to 16 are a float parade, amateur boxing tournament, benefit concert, food festival, street party, mega job fair and ballroom dancing.
On the anniversary day on April 19, the city government would hand out “Natatanging Tarlaqueno Awards” to its natives who have excelled in various fields. The names of the awardees have yet to be revealed.
The old bridge, built by Americans at the former US naval base in Subic in the 1960’s, was closed to traffic in July last year, while a new one with a “security plaza” is under construction and is expected to be finished this July.
It was closed in July last year after it was found to have been weakened by age,
“The opening the old bridge to light vehicles would minimize traffic jams in Olongapo City and also facilitate the entry into the Subic Freeport of vehicles from Zambales during the Holy Week,” said SBMA Administrator Armand Arreza.
Arreza clarified that construction work ion the new bridge will continue in the area but designated lanes for light vehicles will be assigned for the safety of motorists.
Last January, the Kalaklan Bridge was also opened but only for pedestrians, mostly workers in the Subic Bay Freeport.
The Kalaklan lighthouse bridge, dubbed as Subic freeport’s gateway to Zambales, is one of the four bridges connecting the freeport to Olongapo City.
The bridge, along with the Freeport main gate bridge, leads to Magsaysay Drive, the city’s entertainment and business district.
Arrenza said engineers who inspected the Kalaklan bridge found structural defects in it and recommended that a new one be built. Before its, closure, the Kalaklan bridge accommodated an average of 2,500 light vehicles and some 300 pedestrians daily.
He said construction of the new bridge started last February and is expected to be completed this May. The new bridge will be a two-lane concrete structure with a covered walkway and a security plaza.
“The bridge construction project is part of SBMA’s efforts to build vital infrastructure for the planned expansion of the Subic Freeport into nearby areas, such as Olongapo City,” he added.
Meanwhile, the non-working holidays during Holy Week will be longer for folk of Tarlac City after Pres. Aquino declared April 19, Holy Tuesday, a special non-working holiday in the city in line with its 13th charter anniversary.
The Tarlac City information office announced that the non-working day edict was contained in Proclamation No.128 signed by Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa.
Pres. Aquino noted in the proclamation that “it is but fitting and proper that the residents of the City of Tarlac be given full opportunity to celebrate and participate in the occasion with appropriate ceremonies.” The proclamation was issued way back last March 22.
This, even as the Tarlac City Tourism Office announced that the activities slated for this year’s celebration have been moved to earlier dates in order to give way to the observance of Lent.
While April 19 is the date of the anniversary, the city government hold week-long festivities to commemorate this.
Among the activities slated from April 13 to 16 are a float parade, amateur boxing tournament, benefit concert, food festival, street party, mega job fair and ballroom dancing.
On the anniversary day on April 19, the city government would hand out “Natatanging Tarlaqueno Awards” to its natives who have excelled in various fields. The names of the awardees have yet to be revealed.
