Iconic pipe bridge to rise in Davao

DAVAO CITY- An eye-pleasing pipe bridge crossing will soon be a landmark along Davao City's historic Governor Generoso Bridge.

The Davao City Water District (DCWD) is currently building a suspension-type of pipe bridge crossing Davao River that will hold its 1000 millimeter water pipe.

 The earlier pipe bridge which held  650 and 700 mm pipes was destroyed by floods two years ago and the temporary remedy was to place the pipes along the bridge. However Department of Public Works and Highways limited the capacity to just two 200 mm pipes.

"It drastically reduced capacity to 65%, affecting 45,000 connections." said DCWD spokesman Atty. Bernie Delima.

 With the new pipes which has actually a bigger area than the combined 650 and 700 mm pipes there will be an 8% increase in water capacity as compared to the previous plain-looking pipe bridge before it was damaged by the flood.

 Delima said the Bankerohan Pipe Bridge Crossing will be a suspension-type bridge structure similar to the famed San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge or Cebu's Marcelo Fernan Bridge.

 They are planning to put up lighting in the bridge which will be aesthetically pleasing and can be a tourism attraction in Davao City.

Aside from aesthetics, the high tension cables in the suspension bridge holds the trusses that carries the pipes making it structurally durable. The bridge posts are hidden behind the road bridge posts so as to be protected from future flood debris.

 Just in case the pipe brige will be knocked down by floods again, DCWD is planning to build a reserve pipe bridge crossing along Bolton Bridge.

 The budget of the project will be around P105-million and is expected to be completed by March this year. (PIA/RG Alama)