The Binondo-Intramuros Bridge project in Manila of the Department of Public Works and Highway (DPWH) is nearly 90 percent finished and expected to open to vehicular traffic by Holy Week this year.

In his report to DPWH Secretary Roger G. Mercado, Undersecretary and “Build, Build, Build” chief implementer Emil K. Sadain said the 680 meters bridge project across Pasig River is pretty much finished with the main bridge itself having two lanes in each direction complete.

Sadain, in-charge of the Unified Project Management Office (UPMO) Operations, with UPMO Project Directors Benjamin A. Bautista, Sharif Madsmo H. Hasim, Ramon A. Arriola III, Rodrigo Delos Reyes, and Johnson Domingo; and Project Manager Mechor Kabiling conducted rigorous inspection from Intramuros to Binondo on Monday to make sure that the project is done to the standards that are laid out in the contract.

“You can walk over the bridge, but still closed with ongoing construction of ramps on Binondo and Intramuros side,” Sadain said in a news release on Monday.

Mercado said he is extremely excited for the opening of the iconic basket-handle tied steel arch bridge that is expected to cut travel time between the districts of Binondo and Intramuros.

Implemented by UPMO Roads Management Cluster 1, the newest bridge in Manila which will benefit approximately 30,000 vehicles daily gives extra space for pedestrians and dedicated lane for bikers for improved safety and ease of traffic flow.

Equipment and crews are in the process of constructing access ramps made of prefabricated components from Shanghai, China at the Binondo side with an up-ramp located at Muelle dela Industria Street and down-ramps at Rentas Street and Plaza del Conde Street.

Simultaneously, construction of ramps at Intramuros side is ongoing with an up-ramp at Riverside Drive and down-ramp at Solana street.

The PHP3.39 billion project is financed by a government aid grant from the People’s Republic of China.

“We are grateful to the men and women who worked so hard to build this bridge and thank the government of China and its contractor China Road and Bridge Corporation for their commitment to this project,” Sadain said.

The bridge project is one of the flagship infrastructure projects of DPWH under President Rodrigo Roa Duterte administration’s BBB Program. (PNA)