Adriatico Bridge in Malate Reopened

The Adriatico Bridge in Malate, Manila has now been reopened after it collapsed in September 2017. The Adriatico Building, which is more than 33 years old to date, has been replaced by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). The new bridge is 14 meters long--and costs about PHP44 million, which includes the total reconstruction of the damaged reinforced box culvert--now has a widened carriageway and increased load capacity. According to Public Works Secretary Mark Villar, the widening and the increase of the maximum allowable weight was done to accommodate more vehicles in the area. "To accommodate more traffic volume, we have widened Adriatico Bridge from four lanes to six lanes and increased its maximum allowable weight from 10 tons to 20 tons," Villar explained. The improved bridge was also constructed with a higher elevation and wider waterway to increase drainage capability at Estero de San Antonio Abad and minimize flooding at the upstream of the bridge particularly within the vicinity of St. Scholastica, St. Benilde and La Salle Universities. Further, Villar assured that the replacement of Adriatico Bridge, along with the other national bridge projects inside and outside Metro Manila, conform to the latest DPWH bridge seismic design specifications. "Retrofitting and replacement of old bridges in the national capital region are being fast tracked as we want our infrastructures prepared and structurally safe and sound in case of the occurrence of massive earthquake and other calamities,"  said Villar.