The final design of the 3.7-kilometer Panguil Bay Bridge in Northern Mindanao will be ready December this year with actual construction expected to begin early next year.
The Department of Public Work Highways (DPWH) recently announced they are now conducting a geotechnical survey to finalize the design of the P7.375-billion Bridge.
Undersecretary Emil Sadain disclosed from 45, they are now down to about 23 more borehole test analyses to ensure reliable reference for the final design of the bridge.
“The result of the geotechnical investigation onshore and offshore as well as bathymetric data from the study of the underwater depth of ocean floors is vital to ensuring that the Panguil Bay Bridge is built on good foundations with high strength to weight ratio,” Sadain said.
Once completed, Panguil Bay Bridge will be the longest bridge in the Philippines, overtaking San Juanico Bridge in Eastern Visayas which spans 2.164 kilometers.
Through the Panguil Bay Bridge, land travel between Tangub City, Misamis Occidental and Tubod, Lanao del Norte is expected to be reduced from two and a half hours to just seven minutes.
“Panguil Bay Bridge is a realization of the promise to make Filipinos even more connected by building a mega bridge that will provide convenient inter-island travel in the archipelagic topography of Northern Mindanao,” Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar said.
The project is funded by a loan agreement between the Philippine government and Korean Export Import Bank.