President Rodrigo Duterte inaugurated the Estrella – Pantaleon Bridge, a modern bridge that will take motorists from Mandaluyong City to Makati City and vice versa in just 5 minutes.
The President was joined by Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Mark Villar, Senator Bong Go, and Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea in the symbolic unveiling of the bridge marker at Rockwell, Makati City.
The event was also attended by Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez, MMDA Chairman Benhur Abalos, DPWH Undersecretary Emil Sadain, and Mandaluyong City Mayor Carmelita Abalos.
Built at a cost of P1.46 Billion, the Estrella – Pantaleon Bridge Project is one of the two bridges funded by a grant of the People’s Republic of China — the other one is the Binondo-Intramuros Bridge in Manila which is expected to be finished at the end of the year.
The President expressed his appreciation to the Chinese government’s generosity in funding the construction of this new bridge that has not only improved mobility and connectivity but also enhanced the resilience against natural disasters.
“The bridge is among the projects under the Metro Manila Logistics Improvement Network to address traffic congestion including that of EDSA.”
Villar said that this modern bridge across Pasig River is expected to accommodate about 50,000 vehicles daily and is among the projects under the Metro Manila Logistics Improvement Network to address traffic congestion including that of EDSA.
Construction of the 506.46 meters bridge began in January 2019 under the implementation of DPWH Unified Project Management Office (UPMO) Operations headed by Sadain.
Sadain, together with the public works chief, were at the forefront of ensuring the quality completion despite the challenges of this project under the Build Build Build program.
“While this pandemic may have slowed down and disrupted the implementation of this bridge project, the DPWH and the contractor China Road and Bridge Corporation have worked double time.”
“While this pandemic may have slowed down and disrupted the implementation of this bridge project, the DPWH UPMO Roads Management Cluster 1 Team headed by Project Director Benjamin Bautista, former Project Director Virgilio Castillo and Project Manager Melchor Kabiling and the contractor China Road and Bridge Corporation have worked double time,” Villar explained.
This new four-lane bridge with added aesthetic value of V-shaped piers is made of pre-stressed concrete rigid frame with corrugated steel webs, replacing the temporary two-lane box truss bridge dismantled in 2019.
Compared to the old bridge made of temporary modular steel components, the new bridge has two lanes in each direction and with wider sidewalk components.
Estrella – Pantaleon Bridge has a 50.5 meters approach road on Estrella Street, 66 meters Makati approach bridge made of pre-stressed continuous girder, 146 meters main bridge and 243.96 meters approach road at Barangka Drive connected to Pantaleon Street in Mandaluyong City.
Other miscellaneous works include thermoplastic pavement markings, protective barrier and railings along both sides of the bridge, pipes for the storm water, drainage structure, and lightings.
