In a bid to alleviate the traffic on the Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA), the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has been working on modernizing and widening the Estrella-Pantaleon Bridge. The said bridge links Barangka Drive in Mandaluyong City to Estrella Street in Makati City.
A 3D rendering of the completed, modernized Estrella-Pantaleon Bridge
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Just this month, January 2021, the progress of construction of the bridge was given a technical inspection. Leading the said inspection was DPWH Secretary Mark A. Villar, who then said that the progress of the bridge is now at 72 percent. This means that it is 8 percent ahead of schedule.
“We have implemented a catch-up plan on this project due to the two-month work suspension caused by the COVID 19 lockdown. We are confident that construction is on track for a 2021 opening,” said Villar.
The DPWH secretary also added that concrete pouring works for all four segments of the prestressed concrete girder on the Mandaluyong side were already completed. In turn, the crews are currently working on pouring concrete for the first box girder on the Makati side. On top of this, the piers, the main bridge structure, as well as the V-shaped piers that will hold the main bridge are already completed.
Undersecretary for the Unified Project Management Office (UPMO) Emil K. Sadain also added that the DPWH UPMO Roads Management Cluster 1 is currently on the job with regards to the remaining formworks and rebar installation for two segments of concrete girders for both bridge sides. Also, they are currently working on finishing up the Makati side’s box girder.
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DPWH Secretary Mark A. Villar inspecting the construction of the Estrella-Pantaleon Bridge
Once completed and opened, the new and improved Estrella-Pantaleon bridge will have a total length of 506.46 meters and a width of 21.65 meters. It will also feature 3-meter wide sidewalks on both sides. On top of that, the said two-lane bridge will provide an alternative route crossing the Pasig river, thus alleviating the traffic on EDSA and other Pasig crossings as well.
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