Not even a pandemic can stop the government’s “Build, Build, Build” projects as the DPWH is now reporting that the Estrella-Pantaleon bridge that connects Estrella Street at Makati side to Barangka Drive at Mandaluyong side is now 86% complete. 

Like many ongoing DPWH projects, the Estrella-Pantaleon bridge construction remains uninterrupted despite the public health crisis we are having right now. This is because Secretary Villar has revised the guidelines in Department Order No. 30, which is the implementation of infrastructure allowed projects, both public and private, under ECQ, MECQ, GCQ and MGCQ. Nevertheless, DPWH Secretary Mark A. Villar said that at 86 percent and with a few more days remaining to fully complete the new Estrella-Pantaleon Bridge, they have to be mindful because a single case of COVID-19 in the project could lead to an interruption, if not total work stoppage.

Based on the report given by Undersecretary Emil Sadain, the construction is 12 percent ahead of the original schedule, with every major part of the bridge finished. Moreover, the remaining bridge construction activities are just post-tensioning and grouting work, formwork and rebar installation for the closure section in the side spans, formwork installation for the 2-meter closure section in the main bridge span, and preparatory works for approach road construction on both sides. In other words, it’s almost done. 

This P1.46 Billion new Estrella-Pantaleon Bridge project is targeted for completion by this second quarter of 2021. It will have four (4) lanes along with 3-meter sidewalks on both sides. It can accommodate 50,000 vehicles daily and cut travel time between the cities of Mandaluyong and Makati to 12 minutes. And more importantly, it can help decongest EDSA of traffic as it can serve as an alternate route for motorists.