The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is accelerating the completion of three major infrastructure projects worth P10.55 billion by the end of this year, ahead of the original schedule of completion in 2021.
These projects are the P5.7-billion Bonifacio Global City (BGC)-Ortigas Center Link Road project and two bridge projects worth P4.85 billion — the Estrella-Pantaleon and Binondo-Intramuros bridges — which are part of the Edsa decongestion program of the Duterte administration.
Emil Sadain, DPWH undersecretary, said these projects were expected to be completed within the first quarter of 2021.
The DPWH has secured the commitment of contractors and consultants to fast-track implementation, to accelerate the projects’ completion delivery by the end of 2020.
“Given the favorable weather condition, our contractors are trying to double up in terms of works being done on those bridges and once all goes well, the completion time is expected to be early,” Sadain said.
Considering the immediate impact to reducing traffic at Edsa and Circumferential Road 5, particularly along the section of Guadalupe Bridge and Bagong Ilog Bridge, DPWH occasionally conducts onsite assessment to expedite the resolution of implementation challenges at the construction of the 440-meter Sta. Monica-Lawton Bridge, which is a major component of the BGC-Ortigas Center Link Road project.
BGC-Ortigas Center Link Road will reduce to 11 minutes the travel time between BGC and Ortigas central business district. It includes a 362-meter rehabilitation and widening of Brixton (corner Reliance Street) to Fairlane Street and construction of a 565-meter four-lane Lawton Avenue-Global City viaduct structure onwards to the entrance of BGC.
The 506-meter Estrella-Pantaleon Bridge connecting Estrella, Makati City to Barangka Drive, and the 680-meter Binondo-Intramuros Bridge connecting Intramuros (at Solana Street and Riverside Drive) and Binondo (at San Fernando Bridge) with a viaduct structure over Estero de Binondo are two future iconic bridges being financed by a grant from the People’s Republic of China.
