Estrella–Pantaleon Bridge

The Estrella–Pantaleon Bridge, also known as the Rockwell Bridge, is a four-lane box girder bridge crossing the Pasig River in Metro Manila, Philippines. It connects Estrella Street in Makati on the south bank of the Pasig River (near the Rockwell Center), to Pantaleon Street via Barangka Drive in Mandaluyong on the north bank, near the site of the Acqua Private Residences.[6]

Estrella–Pantaleon Bridge
The bridge in October 2023 from the Makati side
Coordinates14°34′1.2″N 121°2′13.2″E
CarriesVehicular traffic and pedestrians
CrossesPasig River
LocaleMakati and Mandaluyong, Metro Manila, Philippines
Other name(s)Rockwell Bridge
Preceded byMakati–Mandaluyong Bridge
Followed byGuadalupe Bridge
Characteristics
DesignTruss bridge (first bridge)
Box girder bridge (second bridge)
MaterialSteel (first bridge)
Concrete (second bridge)
Total length676 m (2,218 ft) (first bridge)
506.46 m (1,661.6 ft) (second bridge)
Width21.65 m (71.0 ft) (second bridge)
Longest span202 m (663 ft) (first bridge)
146 m (479 ft) (second bridge)
No. of lanes2 (first bridge)
4 (second bridge)
History
Constructed byDepartment of Public Works and Highways (first bridge)
China Road and Bridge Corporation (second bridge)
Fabrication byWaagner-Biro Philippines, Inc. (first bridge)
Construction cost₱303.655 million (first bridge)
₱1.46 billion (second bridge)
OpenedFebruary 12, 2011 (2011-02-12) (original)
July 29, 2021 (2021-07-29) (reopening)
Rebuilt2019–2021
Location
References
[1][2][3][4][5]

It is one of three bridges connecting Makati and Mandaluyong, the other two being the Makati–Mandaluyong Bridge connecting Makati Avenue and Poblacion, Makati, to Mandaluyong, and the Guadalupe Bridge carrying EDSA between the two cities, ultimately serving to help relieve chronic traffic congestion on the two other bridges.[7]

History

First bridge
The original two-lane box truss bridge in 2016.

Originally announced in 2003 by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) as one of several bridges to be built by October that year,[8] construction of the bridge would not be realized until several years later, when it was ultimately made part of the Bridge Construction and Acceleration Project for Calamity Stricken Areas I (BCAPCSA I) program, a three-year program funded by Austria to help the Philippines build nineteen weather-resistant bridges, building on a similar program executed by the Austrian and Philippine governments between 2001 and 2005.[9] The bridge was a 676-meter (2,218 ft) two-lane box truss bridge. Austrian firm Waagner-Biro provided the modular steel components for the bridge, while actual construction work was performed by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).[2]

The ₱303.655 million bridge was inaugurated on February 12, 2011 by Vice President Jejomar Binay along with the mayors of Makati and Mandaluyong (Jejomar Binay Jr. and Benjamin Abalos Jr. respectively), Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson, and Austrian ambassador to the Philippines Wilhelm Donko.[7] The bridge opened to motorists on the same day.[2]

Second bridge
The bridge in October 2021 after expansion to four lanes.

In June 2017, Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar announced the expansion of the Estrella–Pantaleon Bridge. Funded by China, the new bridge has four lanes and is a 506.46-meter (1,661.6 ft) twin spine steel box girder bridge with concrete deck slabs. It will utilize the existing approaches while modifying the abutment and piers to accommodate the new bridge superstructure. The bridge also has wider sidewalks with a width of 3 meters (9.8 ft).[10][5] The bridge is designed to withstand high-intensity earthquakes.[11] The project is handled by China Road and Bridge Corporation.[4] Aside from the bridge itself, the construction project also includes improving access to the bridge by upgrading and widening Barangka Drive and Pantaleon Street on the Mandaluyong side.[12]

The bridge was briefly closed on September 23, 2018 to give way for preparation of expansion works[13] but was shortly reopened on September 25 due to the anticipated heavy traffic situation due to the Christmas holiday season. Plans for expansion works were moved to January 2019.[14] The closure of the bridge started on January 19, 2019, and was met with controversies, citing capacity constraints on the Mandaluyong side landing in a two-lane street, and the long project duration, originally expected to last for 30 months.[15]

The bridge expansion is part of the Build! Build! Build! Infrastructure Program.

On April 23, 2021, DPWH announced a final concrete pouring and completion of the substructure and superstructure of the second bridge.[16] The bridge was expected to open in June 2021,[17] but was delayed repeatedly due to the COVID-19 pandemic, among other developments.

The newly-expanded ₱1.46 billion bridge was inaugurated on July 29, 2021 by President Rodrigo Duterte. The bridge reopened to vehicles on the same day.[3][12]

Traffic regulation

In September 2015, Cabinet Secretary Jose Rene Almendras announced that the government was looking into implementing a one-way traffic scheme on the Estrella–Pantaleon and Makati–Mandaluyong Bridges.[18]

See also

References
  1. Laurel, Drei (June 28, 2021). "DPWH says opening of Estrella-Pantaleon Bridge will be next month". Top Gear Philippines. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
  2. "New bridge connecting Makati, Mandaluyong opened". GMA News and Public Affairs. February 13, 2011. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
  3. Aguilar, Krissy (July 29, 2021). "'Don't thank me; thank China, DPWH,' says Duterte on completion of Estrella-Pantaleon Bridge". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
  4. Ramirez, Robertzon (September 26, 2018). "DPWH reopens Estrella-Pantaleon Bridge". The Philippine Star. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
  5. Grecia, Leandre (January 6, 2021). "Estrella-Pantaleon Bridge now 72% complete, will open in Q2 2021". Top Gear Philippines. Retrieved April 6, 2022.
  6. Samaniego, Theresa S. (December 16, 2011). "Acqua urbanites' refuge from the concrete jungle". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Philippine Daily Inquirer, Inc. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
  7. Reyes, Ben (February 12, 2011). "Estrella-Pantaleon Bridge pinasinayaan na". Remate (in Filipino). Archived from the original on November 17, 2015. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
  8. Sy, Marvin (April 20, 2003). "More bridges across Pasig". The Philippine Star. PhilStar Daily, Inc. Archived from the original on July 31, 2021. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
  9. "Construction of 19 Austrian-funded bridges revealed". The Philippine Star. PhilStar Daily, Inc. July 8, 2011. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
  10. Placido, Dharel (June 29, 2017). "Construction of two China-sponsored bridges to begin this year". ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
  11. "Villar Conducts First Drive-Thru on Estrella-Pantaleon Bridge". dpwh.gov.ph. Department of Public Works and Highways. July 19, 2021. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
  12. Unite, Betheena (July 30, 2021). "China-funded Estrella-Pantaleon Bridge now accessible". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
  13. Rey, Aika (September 20, 2018). "Estrella-Pantaleon Bridge in Makati to be closed starting September 23". Rappler. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
  14. "Estrella-Pantaleon bridge reopens to motorists". PTV News. September 25, 2018. Retrieved November 11, 2018.
  15. Laurel, Drei (January 17, 2019). "Senate questions cost, duration of Rockwell Bridge replacement". Top Gear Philippines. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
  16. "DPWH finishing up Estrella-Pantaleon Bridge construction". AutoIndustriya.com. April 27, 2021. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  17. De Guzman, Marcus (April 6, 2021). "New Estrella-Pantaleon Bridge set to open in June 2021". AutoIndustriya.com. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
  18. Tipan, Eric (September 30, 2015). "Government shifts to high gear to combat EDSA traffic". AutoIndustriya.com. Double B Web Solutions Company. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
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