THE ruins of the now historic Franklin bridge, left by a big flood in Luzon in 1935, will be spared demolition during the construction of the P906 million new Pantal bridge here and will remain as a memento for the new generations.
This was assured by Department of Public Works and Highways regional director Fidel Ginez, responding to a letter he received from the Dagupan city government.

The letter asked Ginez to order the project contractor, Toyo Construction Corporation of Japan, not to demolish the remaining structures of the old bridge for its great historical value, being among the declared heritage sites in the city.

The old Franklin bridge was constructed during the American regime to provide the people of Dagupan and eastern part of the province their shortest link to the capital town of Lingayen.

Right on the spot where the Pantal and Calmay river meet, Toyo Construction is now building the new Pantal bridge measuring 385 lineal meters.

Straddling few meters from the eastern bank of the Calmay river, the ruins of the Franklin bridge are now the only known reminders left by the big flood of 1935.

Ginez said in deference to the request of the city government, only the first pier of the old Franklin bridge would be removed as it will be inevitably encroached upon by one of the columns of the steel piles for the new bridge.

Old folk said also destroyed by the 1935 flood was the Dominican-run San Albertus Magnus College, once a boarding school located just right of the Franklin bridge at its western end.

Elder Dagupeños, among them former Dagupan City Mayor Liberato Reyna Sr., studied high school at the old San Albertus Magnus College, the first Catholic-run school in Pangasinan.

A few meters away from the ruins of the Franklin bridge is where paddled boats are moored to await their passengers who cross the Calmay river daily.

The Franklin bridge used to be part of the old Dagupan-Binmaley-Lingayen provincial road that was no longer resurrected after the flood. (PNA)