Otis Bridge Closed for Year-Long Repair

A portion of the Otis Bridge in Paco, Manila has collapsed, and according to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), it will take nine months to a year to complete the repairs.

Repair "Long Overdue"

DPWH-National Capital Region (NCR) District Engineer Melvin Navarro explained that the 50-year old bridge cannot hold the 6,000 trucks that pass on it everyday.

He also added that the bridge, which leads to  Malacañang, has been due for replacement even a few years back.

"We (will) reconstruct Otis Bridge. It is long due for replacement. It just so happened that the plan to have a whole new bridge was pushed back" because of other ongoing construction projects that have tied up traffic in the area, said Navarro.

"We just could not start replacing the bridge because the parallel Concordia Bridge, located near the Philippine Columbian Association, was also being repaired along Quirino Avenue in Manila City. So the trucks and the other vehicles have been using Otis Bridge and this (hastened its) deterioration," he added.

According to him, Concordia Bridge is expected to be finished by January next year.

Alternate Routes for Motorists

MMDA's Task Force Special Operations will enforce more stringent protocol when it comes to road obstructions and illegally parked vehicles along the alternate routes to lessen traffic bottleneck.

They suggest the following alternate routes that motorists can use while the Otis bridge is undergoing its year-long repair:

For Light Vehicles

From Nagtahan to South Luzon Expressway (SLEX), turn right at Zamora Street, left to President Quirino Extension to point of destination.

For Trucks/Trailers

From South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) to R-10, take President Quirino Avenue, left turn at Plaza Dilao, right to President Quirino Avenue Extension, straight to U.N. Avenue, right to Romualdez, right to Romualdez to point of destination.

From R10 to SLEX, right at C-3 Road, 5th Avenue, left to A. Bonifacio Avenue, NLEX, right to Smart Connect Service Road, right to Mindanao Avenue to point of destination.