The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) expects the COVID-19 outbreak to have minimal impact on major bridge projects in Metro Manila funded by China.
“Well, the bridges are still ongoing. So far, I can’t see any major effects (on the project), construction continues. Timelines are the same. If ever there’s an effect, it’s minimal,” Mark Villar, DPWH secretary, said on the sidelines of the pre-opening inspection of the Malabon exit of the Harbor Link project last Friday.
Early this month, the government issued a travel ban to foreign travelers to and from China and its special administrative regions Hong Kong and Macau from entering the Philippines, while Filipinos were also banned from traveling to China to help control the spread of the virus in the country.
However, Villar said the travel ban has no major impact on the construction of the P1.47-billion Estrella-Pantaleon bridge which started last year and is on track to be completed by 2021. This will connect Makati City at Estrella Street and Mandaluyong City at Barangka Drive.
Upon completion, the Estrella-Pantaleon Bridge is also expected to decrease traffic congestion at the Makati-Mandaluyong Bridge by up to 3,360 vehicles per day and at the Guadalupe Bridge by up to 4,474 vehicles per day.
Meanwhile, Villar conducted a final inspection of the Circumferential Road 3 (C3) to Dagat-Dagatan segment, which is set to be opened to motorists on February 21. This will serve as an alternate corridor for motorists bound for the port area from North Luzon expressway (NLEX).
The entire 2.6-kilometer stretch of NLEX Harbor Link C3-R10 section will be operational by end March this year, according to the DPWH.
“This inspection is in preparation for the opening of the C3 to Dagat-Dagatan portion, which is about 1.2 kilometers. We are making sure that all the safety features of the expressway are in place before we open it to the public,” said Villar.
The NLEX Harbor Link C3-R10 section starts from Caloocan Interchange, C3 Road, Caloocan City to Radial Road 10, Navotas City, connecting to the previously opened 5.65-km. NLEX Harbor Link Segment 10 that passes through Karuhatan, Valenzuela City, Governor Pascual Avenue in Malabon City and 5th Avenue/C3 Road, Caloocan City.
It is expected to reduce travel time from Port Area to NLEX to just 10 minutes and is being eyed to provide direct access for commercial vehicles, especially heavy trucks.
“We are anticipating that truckers and freight forwarders will greatly benefit from this new road since their cargo trucks will have 24/7 access, and in turn translate to faster delivery of goods to and from the provinces in North and Central Luzon,” said Raul Ignacio, NLEX Corp. chief operating officer.
Included in the Duterte administration’s “Build, Build, Build” infrastructure program, the NLEX Harbor Link is seen to ease traffic congestion and drive commerce between the harbor area and the Central and North Luzon areas.
It intends to advance transport logistics and provide an alternative route for motorists, bypassing EDSA and other busy streets of Manila.
