Currently, the Pasig River which cuts through the metropolis of Metro Manila has a total of 19 bridges. Now, these bridges are of course entirely catering to motorists and are mostly designed to ease the traffic on other major thoroughfares in the city.
The upcoming Riverlane pedestrian bridge project [Photo source: WTA Design Studio]
While those are well and good, many of the aforementioned bridges don’t offer much in terms of alternative transport. Some are still to receive bike lanes, and many don’t even have pedestrian lanes at all.
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is keenly aware of this, and so in 2019, it has begun building a major project dubbed as the Riverlane.
Once finished, it will have a gross floor area of somewhere around 103-meters and will consist of a series of small bridges designed by WTA Architecture and Design. These will allow for better pedestrian and bike access to and from Quiapo, Manila, and Lawton, Manila, and it will also provide easy access to the Quinta Market and Lawton Ferry Stations. Moreover, it is in close proximity to the LRT 1 Central Terminal.
It will feature a rustic yet modern airy design that hopefully will encourage more people to walk
Furthermore, it will also highlight human activity as it also functions as some sort of social hub concurrent to its planned pedestrian-centric features.
Think of it as a human highway that double functions as a park. And like most modern parks, it will be a sight to behold with its modern design, landmark arches, 3D wall art, and a lot of greenery. It will also feature attractive-looking directional signages that will provide a spotlight on the many sights and destinations of the city.
Furthermore, the bridges themselves will be built wide enough to be able to accommodate a whole host of activities like art exhibits, fitness activities, film shows, dialogues, and workshops among others. Once finished it can even host market stalls much like how a bazaar would.
A video showing the exact location and current status of the Riverlane project. Video courtesy of Neb Andro, Youtube
Overall, the Riverlane project is a hypermodern take on personal alternative transport. And by providing the aforementioned activities via its features, it might also serve to improve the feeling of community many City-dwelling Filipinos will be craving for in the post-pandemic world.
As mentioned though, the Riverlane is currently under construction and the DPWH is yet to announce a target date. So for now, keep reading here on Philkotse.com for more updates on this infrastructure project.