Estrella–Pantaleon Bridge

Estrella–Pantaleon Bridge
Coordinates	14°34′1.2″N 121°2′13.2″E / 14.567000°N 121.037000°ECoordinates: 14°34′1.2″N 121°2′13.2″E / 14.567000°N 121.037000°E
Carries	Vehicular traffic and pedestrians
Crosses	Pasig River
Locale	Makati and Mandaluyong, Metro Manila
Other name(s)	Rockwell Bridge
Preceded by	Makati–Mandaluyong Bridge
Followed by	Guadalupe Bridge
Characteristics
Design	Truss bridge
Material	Steel
Total length	676 meters (2,218 ft)
History
Constructed by	Department of Public Works and Highways
Fabrication by	Waagner-Biro Philippines, Inc.
Construction cost	₱303.655 million
Inaugurated	February 12, 2011

The Estrella–Pantaleon Bridge, also known as the Rockwell Bridge, is a two-lane box truss bridge crossing the Pasig River in Metro Manila, the Philippines. It connects Estrella Street in Makati on the south bank of the Pasig River, near the Rockwell Center mixed-use development, to Pantaleon Street in Mandaluyong on the north bank, near the site of the Acqua Private Residences.^[1]

It is one of three bridges connecting Makati and Mandaluyong, the other two being the Makati–Mandaluyong Bridge connecting Makati Avenue and the Makati Poblacion to Mandaluyong, and the Guadalupe Bridge carrying Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) between the two cities, ultimately serving to help relieve chronic traffic congestion on the two other bridges.^[2]

History

Originally announced in 2003 by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) as one of several bridges to be built by October that year,^[3] construction of the bridge would not be realized until several years later, when it was ultimately made part of the Bridge Construction and Acceleration Project for Calamity Stricken Areas I (BCAPCSA I) program, a three-year program funded by Austria to help the Philippines build nineteen weather-resistant bridges, building on a similar program executed by the Austrian and Philippine governments between 2001 and 2005.^[4] Austrian firm Waagner-Biro provided the modular steel components for the bridge, while actual construction work was performed by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).^[5]

The ₱303.655 million bridge was inaugurated on February 12, 2011 by Vice President Jejomar Binay along with the mayors of Makati and Mandaloyong (Jejomar Binay, Jr. and Benjamin Abalos, Jr. respectively), DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson, and Austrian ambassador to the Philippines Wilhelm Donko.^[2]

In September 2015, Cabinet Secretary Jose Rene Almendras announced that the government was looking into implementing a one-way traffic scheme on the Estrella–Pantaleon and Makati–Mandaluyong Bridges.^[6]

References

1. Samaniego, Theresa S. (December 16, 2011). "Acqua urbanites' refuge from the concrete jungle". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Philippine Daily Inquirer, Inc. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
2. Reyes, Ben (February 12, 2011). "Estrella-Pantaleon Bridge pinasinayaan na". Remate (in Filipino). Retrieved November 16, 2015.
3. Sy, Marvin (April 20, 2003). "More bridges across Pasig". The Philippine Star. PhilStar Daily, Inc. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
4. "Construction of 19 Austrian-funded bridges revealed". The Philippine Star. PhilStar Daily, Inc. July 8, 2011. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
5. "New bridge connecting Makati, Mandaluyong opened". GMA News and Public Affairs. February 13, 2011. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
6. Tipan, Eric (September 30, 2015). "Government shifts to high gear to combat EDSA traffic". AutoIndustriya.com. Double B Web Solutions Company. Retrieved November 16, 2015.