The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has confirmed plans to reinforce the over 50-year-old Guadalupe Bridge in EDSA-Makati City in the near future, a task that could take up to 34 months to complete.
However, before commencing this project, DPWH Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral stated that extension lanes on EDSA must be established to prevent the exacerbation of traffic flow once the retrofitting of Guadalupe Bridge begins.
"We are not repairing the Guadalupe Bridge, but strengthening it. So, we are expanding the capacity of EDSA on both sides before we strengthen the innermost part of the bridge. The extension will add carrying capacity before we touch the Guadalupe bridge," said Cabral at the recent Build Better More (BBM) Infrastructure Forum held in New Clark City, Capas, Tarlac.
The design of the project is already completed, and discussions are ongoing with the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to finalize the traffic management plans.
Meanwhile, the construction of the connecting road from the North Luzon Expressway to the Skyway is nearing completion. This will provide motorists with an alternative route instead of EDSA when traveling to southern Metro Manila and provinces from the north.
The strengthening or retrofitting of Guadalupe Bridge is being undertaken in preparation for a potential mega-quake in Metro Manila. This follows a warning issued by the Japan International Cooperation Agency that the West Valley Fault is overdue and could trigger an earthquake of up to Magnitude 7 at any time.
