The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) expressed confidence that the opening of Binondo - Intramuros Bridge Project will provide immediate impact of easing traffic especially with many people begin working on-site as Metro Manila shifted back to alert level 1.
Secretary Roger G. Mercado said that Undersecretary and Build Build Build Chief Implementer Emil K. Sadain is making sure that if good weather stays, the Binondo - Intramuros Bridge project will be opened to traffic this coming Holy Week.
This flagship infrastructure project under President Rodrigo Roa Duterte administration’s Build, Build, Build Program is expected to benefit approximately 30,000 vehicles daily passing between the two (2) busy districts of Intramuros and Binondo in Manila.
Undersecretary Sadain, in-charge of DPWH Unified Project Management Office (UPMO) Operations, visited once again the construction site on Friday, March 4, 2022 with government and private engineers and construction workers continuing the effort to beat the target opening and fully finished the project at the soonest time possible.
“Pretty soon, people can drive, walk, bike, or run across this iconic bridge”, said Undersecretary Sadain.
The Binondo-Intramuros Bridge Project involves construction of 680 linear meter two (2)-way four (4)-lane bridge connecting historic district of Intramuros at Solana Street and Riverside Drive with the bustling district of Binondo at Rentas Street/Plaza del Conde Street and Muelle dela Industria.
Funded by a grant from Government of China, the project is under contract with China Road and Bridge Corporation.
Its basket-handle tied steel arch main bridge over Pasig River is expected to become the new symbol of time-honored friendship between China and the Philippines.
The project is being implemented by UPMO Roads Management Cluster 1 (Bilateral) headed by Project Director Benjamin A. Bautista with Project Manager Melchor Kabiling as project in-charge.
This bridge project in support of Metro Manila Logistics Network Program is currently about 96.8 percent complete, with workers focus on constructing the approaches on a fill and compacted embankment to allow the roadway to meet the elevation of the bridge.
Other workers have 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.
The project previously encountered delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic and right of way problems. (DPWH)
