THE P3.39B Binondo-Intramuros Bridge Project is already 92 percent complete, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) reported.
DPWH Acting Secretary Roger Mercado said the project is the next flagship infrastructure project of DPWH – Unified Project Management Office (UPMO) Operations that will be completed soon.
The projects are progressing well, DPWH Undersecretary for UPMO Operations Emil Sadain said, and will be completed in time for the Holy Week this year.
“At 92 percent, we are rushing to finish the soon-to-be one of newest landmarks in Manila with its iconic basket-handle tied steel arch. By March, the contractor will begin the final retouching of the steel arch bridge and asphalt will be laid on the concrete slab so we are hoping for continued good weather,” said Sadain, who is the chief implementer of flagship infrastructure projects under “Build, Build, Build” program.
During the inspection on Thursday with Project Director Benjamin A. Bautista and Project Manager Melchor Kabiling of DPWH UPMO Roads Management Cluster 1, Sadain reminded anew the contractor, China Road and Bridge Corporation, of the project’s target opening date.
The completion of the up and down ramps at Binondo and Intramuros is one of the projects under development. The ramps at Binondo side are located at Muelle dela Industria Street for up-ramp and Rentas Street and Plaza del Conde Street for down-ramp.
The construction of ramps at Intramuros side with an up-ramp at Riverside Drive and down-ramp at Solana Street are also ongoing.
“Just like the steel arch main bridge, the girders of the ramps are made of fabricated steel members done internationally in Shanghai delivered in the Philippines in several delayed shipments because of the pandemic,” Sadain said.
The initiative is funded by a government aid grant from the People’s Republic of China.
In the same grant, the DPWH UPMO has finished in 2021 the new Estrella – Pantaleon Bridge included in the Metro Manila Logistics Network connecting the cities of Mandaluyong and Makati.
The project contributes to the traffic decongestion initiative of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s administration.
