MANILA -- A new iconic bridge in Manila is set to open to motorists in the first quarter of 2022. Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Mark A. Villar said that installation of fabricated precast concrete slab panels that will serve as main bridge carriageway of the P3.39 Billion Binondo-Intramuros Bridge Project are now nearing completion.
As of to date, the workers observing safe workplace protocols have performed controlled precast slab installation process on the assembled steel beams of the steel arch bridge which has an already completed sling cable tensioning components, Secretary Villar added.
In his report to Secretary Villar, Undersecretary for Unified Project Management Office (UPMO) Operations Emil K Sadain said that the project is about 77 percent complete and DPWH UPMO Roads Management Cluster 1 is vigorously following up request with Meralco to move or relocate distribution poles and overhead high tension lines that pose serious safety concerns in the on-going construction of ramps in Binondo and Intramuros area.
Undersecretary Sadain together with Project Manager Melchor Kabiling conducted actual field assessment on problem regarding the existing Meralco and Telco lines which will be affected by the launching of steel box girders for the down-ramp along Estero De Binondo towards Plaza del Conde and Rentas Street and the relocation of affected lines along Muelle de Binondo (near San Nicolas Fire Station) and Rentas Street where the down-ramp of the bridge project will be connected.
Of the 135 bored piles for abutments, piers and ramps, 114 were already completed with the remaining 21 mostly at the Estero De Binondo area.
The presence of powerlines and other utilities along Estero de Binondo at the north approach bridge posed serious challenges in the tight schedule to complete the new bridge.
Construction of the 680 lineal meter basket-handle tied steel arch bridge connecting Intramuros (at Solana Street and Riverside Drive) and Binondo (at San Fernando Bridge) with a viaduct structure over Estero de Binondo is financed by a China Aid Grant.
The steel arch main bridge 70 meters in length and a width of 21.65 meters has the following components at Binondo side: two (2) north approach bridges made of composite steel box girder 330 meters right on-ramp and 200 meters left off-ramp; one (1) 88 meters right on-ramp north approach bridge with reinforced concrete slab; and one (1) 98 meters left off-ramp north approach road with mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) retaining wall.
At the southern part in Intramuros are 111 meters right on-ramp and 81 meters left off-ramp south approach road with MSE retaining wall; and 80 meters right on-ramp and 83 meters left off-ramp bridges.
Although the coronavirus pandemic disrupted the jobsite activity, the DPWH and contractor China Road and Bridge Corporation is taking pro-active and preventive measures for workers in accordance with the construction health and safety guidelines issued by Secretary Villar especially with the heightened restriction because of so much transmission of the COVID19 viruses and the Delta variant, added Undersecretary Sadain. (DPWH)
