DPWH opens Kalayaan bridge, plans to finish BGC-Ortigas Link this year

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has officially opened the Sta. Monica-Lawton Bridge, which is now dubbed Kalayaan Bridge. The said infrastructure is part of the BGC-Ortigas Center Link Road project that the agency plans to complete before the end of 2021. 

Newly opened Kalayaan bridge

DPWH Secretary Mark Villar shared that the opening of the Kalayaan bridge is a step closer to reducing travel time between Bonifacio Global City (BGC) and Ortigas to only 12 minutes. 

“With the opening of this bridge, DPWH is a few steps closer into completing the entire BGC-Ortigas Center Link Road Project that will reduce travel time between Bonifacio Global City and Pasig City/Mandaluyong City to only 12 minutes,” Villar said.

The ceremonial opening of the bridge was attended by several government officials including DPWH Secretary Mark Villar, Department of Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, MMDA Chairman Benhur Abalos, Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto, Makati City Mayor Abigail Binay, Taguig City Mayor Lino Cayetano, among others.

The ceremonial opening of the bridge was attended by several government officials

The Kalayaan bridge connects Lawton Avenue in Makati City and Sta. Monica Street in Pasig. It offers better accessibility between the cities of Mandaluyong, Pasig, Taguig, and Makati. It is also seen to help decongest traffic along EDSA and C-5 once the whole BGC-Ortigas Center Link Road project is completed.  

The newly opened bridge is part of the 1.37-kilometer BGC-Ortigas Center Link Road that also includes projects such as road repair and widening of Brixton Street to Fairlane Street in Pasig. The DPWH is also conducting road widening on 8th Avenue in BGC. 

There is also the construction of the Lawton Avenue – Global City Viaduct, which has now reached the Kalayaan Avenue intersection. The said viaduct will soon be connected to the entrance of 8th Avenue in BGC.  

Kalayaan bridge is part of the BGC-Ortigas Link Road

Villar explained that about 20 percent of the traffic volume of EDSA and C-5 can be accommodated once the BGC-Ortigas Link Road project is fully complete. It also expected to offer better traffic flow to get to and from BGC and Ortigas, which reduces travel time to only 12 minutes.   

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