Cabagan–Santa Maria Bridge collapse

[JStephen]

I ran across a live video of this bridge collapse (doesn't show much, though), and realized it seems to have escaped notice here.
Information seems rather fragmentary. This article by surveyors ponders the surveying aspects, although that seems unrelated, but gives basic details:

How LiDAR is Preventing the Next Big Infrastructure Collapse -- The Collapse of the Cabagan–Santa Maria Bridge in Isabela

The collapse of the Cabagan–Santa Maria Bridge in Isabela on February 27, 2025, has raised significant concerns regarding infrastructure safety and the factors leading to such failures. Bridge Overview • Structure: The Cabagan–Santa Maria Bridge was a 990-meter-long tied-arch bridge connecting...

www.absurveyingph.net

 

[Cool_Controls]

It was only in service for 26 days, this should be a warranty claim.

 

[XR250]

It was only in service for 26 days, this should be a warranty claim.

Looks like it was potentially overloaded.

 

[waross]

102 tons on a body job truck? Maybe more like 51 tons. I once crossed the scales with 30 tons on a body job licensed for 22 Tons.
I may be wrong. That truck box may be larger than it appears.

 

[LittleInch]

Someones got their units wrong alright. No way can a 4 axle rigid carry 102 tons. Not even 50.

Looks more like the main girder beam failed or the vertical bars onto the deck failed.

 

[XR250]

The report said a convoy of trucks were crossing. Maybe the one in the photo is not representative? Based on YouTube videos I have seen of trucks crossing bridges in developing nations, nothing would surprise me.

 

[Sym P. le]

Apparently structural deficiencies were at play given remedial work evident in images.


Youtube


Google Maps

 

[LittleInch]

All looks rather flimsy to me

What looks like a girder bolted joint in particular. Nice and rusty.

Case closed?

 

[Sym P. le]

What I was looking at in the first screenshot was the strapping around the concrete arch. This is obviously a retrofit given the clean arches seen on Google Maps. Was the hangar connection failing already. Was the top connection of the vertical member connected with four bolts like the lower end? What could possibly go wrong?

I don't know if I have this right but are the arches a steel framework encased in concrete?

 

[Sym P. le]

Bridge construction began in 2014 while a retrofit was completed in February. ---> Youtube

The dump truck full of rocks might have been close to 100 tons, no?

 

[Garbage1]

A lot of states and the interstate have a GVW limit of 80,000 lbs without special permit.

In my area the standard dump truck load of gravel is 26 tons, based upon my buying experience. And even at that weight, trucks can not use all roads.

 

[waross]

In my area the standard dump truck load of gravel is 26 tons,

And that is rocks, not gravel.
A load of gravel is heavier than the same volume of rocks.
That load is probably 100,000 lbs.
The damage may have been initiated by a preceding truck.

 

[Garbage1]

And that is rocks, not gravel.
A load of gravel is heavier than the same volume of rocks.

I purchased about 50 loads of crusher run (3/4" to dust road base) and 3/4" washed gravel.

Neither load filled the bed volume. Crusher run was like 1/2 or so if bed volume, and washed took up mote volume. They call 26 tons a Full Load around these parts.

I estimate truck weighted in around 30 tons?

So 56 ton load. The bed length in pictures may be longer than bed length of local 3-1/2 axle dump trucks.

 

[waross]

So 56 ton load.

I estimated the box size as 20 ft x 8 ft x 6 ft and got 103,000 lbs., close enough to 52 ton load

Probably a younger journalist who thinks in SI.
("102,000 kg = 102 tonnes, so 102 lbs must equal 102 tons, right?")