Newly Built Bridge in Isabela Collapses
ISABELA – Six people, including two children, were injured when a newly constructed bridge in Barangay Casibarag Norte, Cabagan, collapsed on Thursday night, February 27.
At around 8 PM, four vehicles—a truck, two SUVs, and a motorcycle—were crossing the bridge when a section gave way, sending them plunging into the river below.
According to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Region 2, the collapse was caused by a dump truck carrying boulders, with an estimated total weight of 102 tons. The excessive load likely exceeded the bridge’s capacity, leading to structural failure.
While the DPWH has identified the truck’s weight as a key factor, a more thorough investigation is underway. Experts from the Bureau of Design and Bureau of Construction have been called in to conduct further assessments to determine if other structural issues contributed to the incident.
The Cabagan-Santa Maria Bridge was a major infrastructure project that began construction in November 2014 and was only recently completed in February 2025. The project, which included both the bridge and its connecting roads, had a total budget of ₱1.2 billion.
The collapse has raised concerns about the bridge’s integrity, especially since it had undergone retrofitting just months before the incident. Authorities have temporarily restricted access to the bridge, allowing only smaller vehicles to pass until additional safety measures are implemented.
Meanwhile, emergency responders transported the injured individuals to a nearby hospital for treatment, though their current conditions have not been disclosed.
Authorities are also searching for the dump truck driver, who was not at the scene when responders arrived. The DPWH has urged motorists to remain cautious while traveling in the area, emphasizing the importance of adhering to weight restrictions to prevent similar incidents in the future.