Ayala Bridge in San Miguel, Manila will be passable to vehicular traffic both directions by June 11, 2015.
For public safety reasons and barring unforeseen circumstances, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has moved the partial re-opening of the bridge to light vehicles by mid-May to full opening on June 11 due to the complexity of the rehabilitation activities on the bridge’s superstructure and retrofitting works on its substructure.
Secretary Rogelio L. Singson explained that part of the works for the full rehabilitation of the four-lane steel truss-type Ayala Bridge to restore its structural integrity is the strengthening of existing abutments and pier foundations and the construction of continuous slab design with additional 4” slab on the bridge deck.
The 139-lineal meter bridge with a total superstructure width of 25 meters will also be lifted by 70 centimeters for freeboard clearance of navigating vessels along Pasig River.
In the past, Ayala Bridge was susceptible to damage from passing barges and tugboats because of limited freeboard clearance and also at serious risk from seismic or earthquake forces inasmuch as it was subjected to major repair 58 years ago (1957).
The lifting of the bridge, first in the Philippines, commenced last April 22 utilizing heavy lifting system which is being used to lift bridges, buildings and other structures worldwide.
The existing bridge approaches and the access road to Hospicio de San Jose will also be reconstructed to suit the new bridge elevation on the existing horizontal alignment.