The Estrella-Pantaleon Bridge, which connects the cities of Makati and Mandaluyong, is expected to open by the end of July, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) announced Tuesday, July 13.
This, as DPWH Secretary Mark Villar revealed that the finishing works on the bridge were in full swing.
"Although the COVID-19 (coronavirus disease) pandemic has impacted construction activities of various flagship infrastructure projects like Estrella Pantaleon Bridge, the DPWH-Unified Project Management Office (UPMO) team geared up to take up this challenge by keeping focus on the importance of delivering completion and opening this bridge project this early month of the third quarter," the secretary added.
According to Undersecretary Emil K. Sadain, the complete layers of asphalt concrete base, binder and wearing course on the 146-meter main bridge and 66-meter Makati approach bridge are almost done.
"Having put up the upper layer, bridge expansion joints are now being installed to allow for continuous traffic between the bridge and the interconnecting abutment structures," Sadain said.
Among the completed ancillary works for the bridge project with V-shape piers include the protective barriers and railings along both sides of the bridge, storm water drainage structure, and lighting.
Meanwhile, paving works for the 50.5-meter approach road on Estrella Street, Makati City and the 243.96-meter approach road on Barangka Drive connected to Pantaleon Street in Mandaluyong City are also underway.
The P1.46-billion endeavor will produce a 506.46-meter, pre-stressed concrete rigid frame bridge. The four-lane structure will replace the temporary two-lane box truss bridge made of modular steel components that was dismantled in 2019.
The Estrella-Pantaleon Bridge is one of two grant bridges from China, the other one being the Binondo-Intramuros Bridge.