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A joint venture between the Lopez Group’s construction arm, First Balfour Inc., and Japan-based JFE Engineering Corp. will oversee a ₱7.7-billion project to strengthen the resiliency of two of Metro Manila’s busiest bridges against earthquakes.
The JFE Engineering-First Balfour Joint Venture (JFE-FB JV) recently signed a contract with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to oversee the implementation of the Metro Manila Priority Bridges Seismic Improvement Project (MMPBSIP).
The project is part of the Marcos administration’s ongoing efforts to upgrade key transport routes against natural disasters, while maintaining their reliability and safety.
“This project is vital for our safety as we strengthen our infrastructure to withstand strong earthquakes, such as the Big One,” President Marcos was quoted as saying last year.
The “Big One” is a magnitude 7.2 earthquake that could strike Metro Manila and nearby provinces, causing a substantial death toll and severe damage to buildings and other infrastructure.
The MMPBSIP is set to strengthen the earthquake resilience of two structural links over the Pasig River. Namely, the Lambingan Bridge along New Panaderos Street in Santa Ana, Manila, and the Guadalupe Bridge along EDSA in Makati City.
Guadalupe Bridge, which has 10 lanes, connects Makati and Mandaluyong. It handles around 365,000 vehicles daily.
Lambingan Bridge, on the other hand, has six lanes and connects Sta. Ana in Manila and Mandaluyong. More than 30,000 motorists pass the bridge daily.
The MMPBSIP will be funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), with an estimated ₱10.34 billion initial funding.
In its website, JICA said the project will oversee the improvement of seismic bridge design specifications.
The Japanese agency noted that this will contribute to a “more sustainable economic and social development of Metro Manila,” as well as to the “speedy recovery in case of large-scale earthquakes.”
JICA categorized the project with the “B” classification, noting that its construction is not likely to have a significant adverse environmental impact.
Under the project, the JFE-FB JV will demolish the existing concrete of the 50-year-old Lambingan Bridge to construct a new arch-type and stronger steel bridge over the same site.
At the 46-year-old Guadalupe Bridge, the company will replace the concrete outer spans with steel box girders. It will also welcome new piers and retrofitted abutments to further improve structural stability.
With the anticipated traffic congestion over this project, Marcos previously said that a traffic management plan will be developed to “minimize the impact on commuters.”
The DPWH said that temporary steel detour bridges will first be constructed before the demolition and construction of the two bridges.
Last year, the agency said alternative bridges for the northbound and southbound lanes of the Guadalupe Bridge would be built four months after the issuance of the notice to proceed (NTP).
The temporary structures will be built within a seven-month period, and once completed, will divert the two outermost lanes of EDSA.
This will then prompt the 17-month retrofitting on the two outermost lanes of the existing bridges.
The joint venture company between JFE Engineering and First Balfour expects the NTP to be issued in the coming weeks.
