Part of the President Rodrigo Roa Duterte administration’s Metro Manila Logistics Improvement Network project, construction of Binondo-Intramuros Bridge connecting Solana Street and Riverside Drive in Intramuros with San Fernando Street in Binondo, Manila get started with the drilling for first bored pile at down ramp section near Maestranza Park.
The 710-meter bridge will have four lanes and will exhibit a steel bowstring arch design with inclined arches.
Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark A. Villar together with Undersecretary Emil K. Sadain of Unified Project Management Office (UPMO) Operations and Technical Services, and Project Director Castillo of UPMO Roads Management Cluster I (Bilateral) made an inspection at the site where they witnessed the on-going excavation and drilling of pile cap and bored pile for abutment, and fabrication of steel cage by contractor China Roads and Bridges Corporation who has recruited about 70 local workers to complement with Chinese bridge experts.
Financed under China Grant-aid in the amount of P4.243 Billion, the bridge is planned for completion by January 2021.
No less than President Rodrigo Duterte and Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua led on July 17, 2018 the groundbreaking ceremony for iconic Binondo-Intramuros Bridge Project and another China grant-aid project in Estrella-Pantaleon Bridge connecting Estrella Street, Makati City and Barangka Drive, Mandaluyong City.
Although proper coordination was done with the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, Local Government Units and other stakeholders, implementation of the 506-meter Estrella-Pantaleon Bridge Project was deferred until the end of Christmas Season due to clamor of motoring public on the impact of closing the existing 2-lane bridge for the dismantling of superstructure in preparation for the construction of a new 4-lane V-shape rigid frame box girder with corrugated steel webs type. Activities will resume by January 2019.
The leadership of Secretary Villar and Undersecretary Sadain aims to deliver the full completion of these bridges that will not just connect the various strategic areas but also contribute to the quest to spur vibrant economic activity to an efficient and reliable road transportation network.