Villar believes only one thing can stop Estrella-Pantaleon Bridge opening next month
Only a severe weather event can derail the scheduled completion and opening of the Estrella-Pantaleon Bridge next month, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Mark A. Villar reckoned on Monday, June 21.
Villar said there are "only few activities" left to be done on the bridge, the construction of which was funded by a grant from the Chinese government.

"The DPWH will focus on completing the approach road of the bridge and other miscellaneous works entering its final phase this couple of weeks," he explained.
"At 93 percent complete barring severe weather, the goal of opening the Estrella-Pantaleon Bridge to traffic by next month will likely be reached," the secretary added.
Undersecretary Emil K. Sadain said the concreting of the approach road on both sides of the cities of Makati and Mandaluyong will complete the linkage to the finished main and approach bridge.
A 50.5-meter (m) approach road on Estrella Street in Makati leading toward the completed 66-m approach bridge and main bridge will be concreted in the coming days with similar work already being done on the 243.96-m Mandaluyong approach road on Barangka Drive toward E. Pantaleon Street, Sadain added.
Other remaining ancillary works on the bridge include asphalt overlay, and installation of lane markings, protective barrier and railings along both sides of the bridge, pipes for the storm water drainage structure, and lightings.
Villar noted that "extraordinary measures" were taken by the department amid the pandemic to keep the construction workers from contracting the dreaded coronavirus disease (COVID-19). These include temperature checks on every worker who enters the site, enforcing the safe distance rule, disinfecting work sites and common areas, and reducing the number of people who travel in the same vehicle to and from the site.
The Estrella-Pantaleon Bridge is one of the two China Government-funded bridge projects that are currently under construction.
The P1.46-billion structure will connect Estrella Street in Makati City to Barangka Drive in Mandaluyong City.
It will replace the old temporary steel truss bridge, which used to be a two-way bridge with one lane per direction.
Once completed, the bridge will take away around 50,000 vehicles per day from EDSA traffic.