DPWH to build 3 bridges crossing Marikina River through $175-M ADB loan
AFP FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — The construction of three new bridges crossing Marikina River — expected to ease traffic congestion in Metro Manila — will be funded by a $175-million loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
In a statement on Wednesday, the ADB said the Metro Manila bridges project to be implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will build climate- and disaster-resilient bridges to be stretched across 3,024 meters over Marikina River.
The three bridges will be called the Homeowner’s Drive-A. Bonifacio bridge, Kabayani Street-Matandang Balara bridge, and Marcos Highway-St. Mary Avenue Bridge.
As the Philippines was prone to earthquakes and flooding, the bridges will be built to mitigate flood risks as well as absorb strong earthquake shocks, the ADB said.
To help address heavy vehicular traffic flow in congested Metro Manila, these three bridges will be connected to major arterial as well as other trunk roads, the ADB added.
“The project meets international safety standards for access to all pedestrians, including people with disabilities, children, older people, and women,” according to the ADB.
“The project is the ADB’s first focused on bridge construction in the Philippines and will help in the country’s economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic by creating jobs, improving the living conditions of residents near the river, and providing them with better access to the rest of Metro Manila,” ADB transport specialist for Southeast Asia Chaorin Shim said.
“This project is part of the country’s flagship ‘Build, Build, Build’ infrastructure development program and the government’s integrated transport strategy to decongest Metro Manila, and promote development in the regions,” Shim added.
When the project was first proposed in 2018, documents showed that the ADB planned five bridges crossing not only Marikina River but also Manggahan Floodway.
“The continuous economic development and urbanization in Metro Manila has brought along heavy traffic congestion that causes substantial loss of time and opportunities for commuters and businesses, respectively…. It was estimated that the country lost P3.5 billion per day in 2017, due to Metro Manila traffic, and the loss was projected to be P5.4 billion per day in 2035 if no action is taken,” the ADB had said, citing estimates of the state planning agency National Economic and Development Authority.
Besides traffic congestion, the ADB had flagged “high” risks from earthquakes, floods as well as typhoons hitting Metro Manila and neighboring provinces.
“These risks are set to increase with changes in natural hazard patterns due to climate change; and increase in exposure of people and assets due to rapid urbanization in flood-prone riverine and low-lying areas. Studies show that Metro Manila will face an increase in intensity of typhoons as well as a rise in sea level, which would likely increase flood risks,” the ADB had said.
