DPWH opens 440-meter Santa Monica-Lawton bridge in Metro Manila

The Sta. Monica-Lawton Bridge is set to operate this year, connecting Bonifacio Global City to Ortigas Center.

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) opened the 440-meter Santa Monica-Lawton bridge across the Pasig River on June 12, providing an alternative route in Metro Manila.

In a statement, the DPWH said the bridge eases access to the cities of Pasig and Mandaluyong from Kalayaan Avenue, Makati City and Bonifacio Global City in Taguig City.

“Sta. Monica-Lawton Bridge is a timely Independence Day gift of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to the general public who will be relieved from traffic congestion going in and out of Makati/BGC Taguig and Pasig/Mandaluyong City,” Public Work and Highways secretary Mark Villar said in a statement.

The bridge is a major component of the P1.8 billion BGC-Ortigas Center Link Road Project.

This involves the rehabilitation and widening of the 476.58-m stretch from Brixton (corner Reliance Street) to Fairlane Street and the 232.34-meter BGC 8th Avenue.

The department is also building 125-m upward and downward ramps at Kalayaan Avenue Intersection, and the construction of Lawton Avenue – Global City Viaduct.

The viaduct structure from Lawton Avenue up to the entrance of BGC is set for completion by the last quarter of 2021, the DWPH said.

The BGC-Ortigas Center Link Road project is part of the administration’s Build Build Build infrastructure program.