Chinese Government provides USD 17.46 million grant — via ETCA — for Estrella-Pantaleon Bridge Expansion and Reconstruction Project (Linked to Project ID#63254 and #64983)

On April 10, 2018, the Chinese and Philippine governments signed an Economic and Technical Cooperation Agreement (ETCA) (see Project ID #63284), which committed RMB 500 million of grant funding for multiple projects, including RMB 264.8 million for the Estrella-Pantaleon Bridge Expansion and Reconstruction Project (see Project ID #64984) and Binondo-Intramuros Bridge Construction Project (see Project ID #64983). The purpose of the Estrella-Pantaleon Bridge Expansion and Reconstruction Project (see Project ID #64984) is to expand and reconstruct the Estrella-Pantaleon Bridge crossing the Pasig River connecting Makati and Mandaluyong. This bridge was financed with approximately USD 17.46 million of Chinese Government grant funding and involves replacing the existing two-lane bridge by constructing a new four-lane bridge to create the road network capacity connecting the City of Makati at Rockwell Center and Mandaluyong City in Barangka Ibaba and reduce traffic congestion that occurs at the six-lane approach road at Estrella St. and at five-legged intersection at Barangka side. The new, 506.46 meter bridge was to be built with a pre-stressed concrete rigid frame with corrugated steel webs and four-lane concrete deck slab. It was designed to connect Estrella Street in Makati to Barangka Drive in Mandaluyong City. The previous bridge had two lanes and will be expanded to four lanes, accommodating, with about 9,438 vehicles per day expected to be diverted from the adjacent bridges (Makati-Mandaluyong Bridge and Guadalupe Bridge). The purpose of the Binondo-Intramuros Bridge Construction Project (see Project ID #64983) is to construct the Binondo-Intramuros Bridge crossing the Pasig River in Manila. This bridge was financed with approximately USD 74.15 million of Chinese Government grant funding and involves the construction of a steel arch bridge (basket type) supporting a 4-lane deck of approximately 734 meters to connect the Intramuros side at Solana Street and Riverside Drive and the Binondo side at San Fernando Street with a viaduct over the creek to Muelle del Binondo. The total length of the route is 734 meters, and the length of the main line bridge is 627 meters. The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) board approved both projects on September 12, 2017. China Road and Bridge Engineering Co., Ltd. is the contractor responsible for the implementation of both projects and CCCC Highways Consultants Co. Ltd. is the contractor responsible for the design of both projects. On April 27, 2018, a signing ceremony was held in Manila in which China Road and Bridge Engineering Co., Ltd. signed a construction contract and CCCC Highways Consultants Co. Ltd. signed a design contract. A formal groundbreaking ceremony for both projects took place on July 17, 2018. However, construction reportedly did not begin until January 19, 2019. The Estrella-Pantaleon Bridge Expansion and Reconstruction Project was originally expected to reach completion by May 2020, but its expected completion date was subsequently pushed back to February 2021. As of March 2021, the project had achieved an 81.6% completion rate. On July 29, 2021, the bridge was opened and motorists began using it the following day. The Binondo-Intramuros Bridge Construction Project was originally expected to reach completion in 2020, but its expected completion date was later pushed back to February 1, 2021. In March 2019, conservation groups raised concerns regarding the Binondo-Intramuro bridge's proximity to a UNESCO World Heritage Site, San Agustin Church and Monastery, and construction was officially halted in May 2019 for the Philippines Department of Public Works and Highways to "to submit technical studies on potential archeological and cultural risks of construction.” By February 2021, the project had achieved a 50% completion rate. By July 2021, it had had reached a 70% completion rate. By September 2021, it had reached a 77% completion rate, and the main structure of the bridge was almost complete.

Additional details

1. This project is also known as the Two China Aid Bridges Project: Estrella-Pantaleon Bridge and Binondo-Intramuros Bridge. The Chinese project title is 援马尼拉桥梁项目 or 马尼拉桥梁项目. 2. One source suggests that the Chinese Government provided RMB 396 million of grant funding in total for the Estrella-Pantaleon Bridge Expansion and Reconstruction Project and Binondo-Intramuros Bridge Construction Project. This issue warrants further investigation.

Number of official sources

22

Number of total sources

26