DPWH to close Estrella-Pantaleon Bridge

The Estrella-Pantaleon Bridge, also known as Rockwell Bridge, will be totally closed to traffic starting Jan. 19 to make way for its over two-year reconstruction, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) ordered.

The bridge that links Makati City and Mandaluyong City will be reconstructed from two lanes to four lanes. It is one of the two bridges that are financed by the People’s Republic of China through a bilateral cooperation with the Republic of the Philippines.

According to Undersecretary Emil Sadain, the total bridge closure will allow project contractor China Road and Bridge Corporation to accelerate dismantling of the existing bridge and construction of a new 506 lineal meters bridge structure.

“We ask for public’s patience and understanding as we intend to go full blast on implementation so we can complete and open a new 4-lane bridge crossing Pasig River within the 30-months construction period or by 2021,” Sadain said.

The construction of the ₱1.47billion bridge project was originally set in September 2018 but was deferred to January 2019 to give way for the holiday season affecting the pace of economic and business landscape.

The closure of the bridge, on the other hand, have also been rescheduled from Jan. 12 to 19 as alternate routes were finalized to ease traffic build-up that might occur with the bridge’s closure.

Sadain said the department have earlier requested the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the city governments of Makati and Mandaluyong for traffic management assistance. Road traffic advisories were also installed around the project vicinity.