The China-funded Estrella-Pantaleon Bridge that links the cities of Makati and Mandaluyong will finally be inaugurated tomorrow, Thursday, July 29, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Mark A. Villar announced.
This will be followed by the bridge's opening to motorists the next day, Friday, July 30.
After flirting with the potential opening of the bridge in August, Villar said the much-awaited event was returned to its original end-of-July schedule.
"Despite the challenges, DPWH delivered its commitment for the July opening of the modern Estrella-Pantaleon Bridge," the secretary said Wednesday, July 28.
Ahead of the opening, Undersecretary Emil Sadain and Project Director Benjamin Bautista conducted final safety checks on the new bridge Tuesday, July 27.
Once opened to traffic, it will be able to accommodate about 50,000 vehicles a day and provide a major link between the central business district of Makati and Mandaluyong, with just a five-minute travel separating the two cities.
It is also expected to ease traffic on the overly-congested Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (EDSA).
The four-lane bridge project includes the construction of a 50.5-meter approach road on Estrella Street, a 66-meter Makati approach bridge, a 146-meter main bridge, and a 243.96-meter approach road on Barangka Drive connected to Pantaleon Street in Mandaluyong City. The total length of 506.46 meters.
A sidewalk with railings for pedestrians was also incorporated in the bridge’s design.
The new bridge will replace the temporary two-lane box truss bridge made of modular steel components. It was dismantled in 2019.
The P1.46-billion bridge project is one of the two bridges funded by a grant of the People’s Republic of China. The other one is Binondo-Intramuros Bridge in Manila, which is expected to be completed at the end of the year.