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MANILA, Philippines—The demolition and reconstruction of the Estrella-Pantaleon Bridge, which connects the cities of Makati and Mandaluyong, has again been moved to a later date with its closure set on Jan. 19.
Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Special Operations Head Bong Nebrija announced this on Friday in an interview over Radyo Inquirer.
The MMDA last week announced that the bridge will be closed on Saturday, Jan. 12. However, Nebrija said they decided to move the closure a week later to inform and prepare motorists on the expected traffic gridlocks.
“We need to inform the public. Kahit alam na nila magsisimula ngayong January we still need to inform them,” Nebrija said.
“We also found out na sandali… Kulang pa tayo sa signages eh. Kawawa ‘yung manggagaling ng Mandaluyong, kawawa ‘yung manggagagaling ng Makati. They will be lost kung sang sila magrereroute,” he added.
READ: DPWH pushes through with Estrella-Pantaleon Bridge closure on Jan. 12
The project was initially set to start last Sept. 2018 but was deferred due to “public clamor.”
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) timeline said the project, which aims to widen it to four lanes from its present two lanes, will be completed in 2021.
Nebrija said he met with MMDA General Manager Jojo Garcia, the DPWH and the project contractor recently and agreed to set the “tentative” schedule of closure to Jan. 19.
With the bridge closed for 30 months, transport officials released a simple rerouting guideline, telling motorists to either take the Edsa-Guadalupe Bridge, C5-Road, or the Makati-Mandaluyong Bridge.
The Estrella-Pantaleon Bridge connects Estrella Street in Makati City and Barangka Drive in Mandaluyong City.
The bridge’s rehabilitation is one of two projects along the Pasig River which are funded by China and forms part of the Metro Manila Logistics Master Plan, which aims to construct 12 bridges in addition to rehabilitation of the 30 existing bridges over the Pasig River. /muf