MANILA, Philippines — Completion of the China-funded Binondo-Intramuros bridge project in Manila has been pushed back to the first half of 2022, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said.
The P3.39-billion bridge project financed by a grant aid from China was initially eyed for completion by the end of 2021.
However, the DPWH said it had to push back the project timeframe to relocate public and private services and utilities in the area, as well as to wait on the pre-fabricated steel materials to come in from China.
The project was also affected by work suspension at the height of pandemic, according to the agency.
The DPWH in a statement said it is now targeting to finish the project by the first half of 2022.
Considered as one of the flagship infrastructure projects of the DPWH under the Build Build Build program, the bridge project is expected to cut travel time between the two busy districts of Intramuros and Binondo in Manila, as well as benefit approximately 30,000 vehicles daily.
DPWH undersecretary and Build Build Build chief implementer Emil Sadain said the overall progress of the bridge project is now at 88.63 percent.
The agency has started with the massive installation of prefabricated girders for abutments and ramps of the project.
Simultaneously, manpower and equipment resources are also doing the lifting of pre-fab girders for the 298 meters up-ramp at Muelle dela Industria side.
The project involves the construction of 680 linear meter bridge connecting historic district of Intramuros at Solana Street and Riverside Drive with the district of Binondo at Rentas Street/Plaza del Conde Street and Muelle dela Industria.
“We are expecting a lot of dramatic changes for this project, with all the needed materials and high-performance launching equipment available on the construction site,” Sadain said.