By next month, the iconic Binondo–Intramuros Bridge in Manila will be passable to all as the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said it is almost done with the project.
DPWH Secretary Roger G. Mercado said he has given Undersecretary Emil K. Sadain, the chief implementer of the ‘Build Build Build’ Program of the government, instructions to finish the project by Holy Week.
Sadain, who is in-charge of DPWH Unified Project Management Office (UPMO) Operations, was on site last Friday, March 4 to inspect the progress with other government and private engineers, as well as construction workers who continue to work daily.
“Pretty soon, people can drive, walk, bike, or run across this iconic bridge,” said Sadain.
Although the project encountered delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic and right of way problems, it is now 96.8 percent complete.
The project is expected to ease traffic in the area as it will provide immediate impact when people begin to return to work in Metro Manila with the restriction status against COVID-19 now at its lowest at Alert Level 1.It is expected to benefit approximately 30,000 vehicles daily passing between the two busy districts of Intramuros and Binondo in Manila.
The Binondo–Intramuros Bridge project involves construction of 680 linear meter 2-way, 4-lane bridge connecting the historic district of Intramuros at Solana Street and Riverside Drive with the district of Binondo at Rentas Street/Plaza del Conde Street and Muelle dela Industria.
The project is funded by a grant from the Government of China, which is under contract with China Road and Bridge Corporation. It is a basket-handle tied steel arch main bridge over Pasig River, which is expected to become the new symbol of time-honored friendship between China and the Philippines.
The project is being implemented by the UPMO Roads Management Cluster 1 (Bilateral) headed by Project Director Benjamin A. Bautista with Project Manager Melchor Kabiling as project in-charge.
DPWH workers are now focused on constructing the approaches on a fill and compacted embankment to allow the roadway to meet the elevation of the bridge project, which is supported by the Metro Manila Logistics Network Program.
Other workers have also started doing finishing works on the bridge structure including painting of steels, installation of guardrails and other safety components for motorists, pedestrians, runners and cyclists.
Construction of the new bridge adopted new project techniques utilizing prefabricated bridge elements with high performance materials sourced directly from China.