The Estrella-Pantaleon Bridge connecting Makati City via Estrella Street and Mandaluyong City via Barangka Drive will be closed off completely to traffic for more than two years starting January 19 to make way for its reconstruction and lane widening from two lanes to four.
Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) undersecretary for Unified Project Management Office (UPMO) Operations and Technical Services Emil Sadain said the total bridge closure will allow project contractor China Road and Bridge Corp to accelerate dismantling of the existing bridge and construction of a new 506-lineal meter bridge structure.
“We ask for the public’s patience and understanding as we intend to go full blast on implementation so we can complete and open a new 4-lane bridge crossing Pasig River within the 30-months construction period or by 2021,” Sadain said in a statement.
To ease traffic build-up that might occur when the Estrella-Pantaleon Bridge is closed, the DPWH earlier requested the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the city governments of Makati and Mandaluyong for traffic management assistance.
Road traffic advisories have also been installed around the project vicinity in coordination with the traffic offices of Mandaluyong and Makati. Related meetings are being held with MMDA and local government officials in preparation for the bridge closure.
Originally set for September 2018, implementation of the P1.47-billion bridge project under China grant financing was deferred to January 2019 in view of the holiday season affecting the economic and business landscape.
The reconstruction and widening project aims to augment the bridge’s capacity to accommodate traffic, which averages about 25,826 vehicles daily, based on the latest traffic count surveys carried out by DPWH-Bureau of Quality and Safety.
The widening of Estrella-Pantaleon Bridge is one of the priority bridge projects of the DPWH-UPMO Roads Management Cluster 1 to alleviate traffic congestion by improving the capacity and efficiency of existing road transport network in Metro Manila.
Upon completion, Estrella-Pantaleon Bridge is expected to decrease daily traffic at Makati-Mandaluyong Bridge by up to 3,360 vehicles and at Guadalupe Bridge by up to 4,474 vehicles.
DPWH said another highlight of the project is the iconic bridge design that will add aesthetic value to the riverine area of Pasig River. The new Estrella-Pantaleon Bridge will feature a three-meter sidewalk on both sides in contrast to the existing 0.6-meter sidewalks, to ensure pedestrian safety.
Roads on both ends of Estrella-Pantaleon Bridge will be widened to accommodate added volume of traffic in the area.
DPWH Metro Manila First District Engineering Office is conducting a parcellary survey in preparation for the road widening of Pantaleon Street, while widening of Barangka Drive is considered a priority project included in the master development plan of the Mandaluyong City government.
