The Guadalupe Bridge is a road bridge crossing the Pasig River in Metro Manila, Philippines, linking the cities of Makati and Mandaluyong. It serves as a conduit for EDSA and the MRT Line 3.

Guadalupe Bridge

Tulay ng Guadalupe
Guadalupe Bridge as seen from the Guadalupe Ferry Station
Coordinates14°34′06.5″N 121°02′45.6″E / 14.568472°N 121.046000°E / 14.568472; 121.046000
Carries10 lanes of AH 26 (N1) (EDSA), vehicular traffic and pedestrians
CrossesPasig River
LocaleGuadalupe Viejo and Guadalupe Nuevo, Makati and Buayang Bato and Barangka Ilaya, Mandaluyong, Metro Manila, Philippines
Maintained byDepartment of Public Works and Highways and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority
Preceded byEstrella–Pantaleon Bridge
Followed byBGC-Ortigas Center Bridge
Characteristics
DesignGirder bridge (outer bridges)
Tied-arch bridge (inner bridge)
MaterialPrestressed and reinforced concrete
(Outer bridges)
Steel (Inner bridges)
Total lengthInner bridge: 135 m (443 ft)
Outer bridges: 114.44 m (375.5 ft)
WidthInner bridge: 9.1 m (30 ft)
Outer bridges: 18.7 m (61 ft) each
Load limitOuter bridges: 20 metric tons (20 long tons; 22 short tons)
No. of lanes10 (5 per outer bridge)
Rail characteristics
No. of tracksDouble-track
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) standard gauge
ElectrifiedYes; through 750 V DC overhead lines
History
Constructed byUmali-Pajara Construction Company (outer bridges)
EEI Corporation (inner bridge)
Construction start1962 or 1963
Construction end1966
1974 (widening)
1979 (two outer lanes)
Inaugurated1999 (inner bridge)
Statistics
Daily traffic220,000 vehicles (2013)[1]
Location
Map

Background

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The modern-day Guadalupe Bridge consists of an inner bridge and two outer bridges.[2]

Plans to finalize the then-partially opened Highway 54 (now EDSA) and link the north and south banks of the Pasig River were conceived in the 1950s.[3] The bridge was originally narrow, but it underwent replacement in the 1960s. Construction began in 1962 or 1963 and was finished on November 23, 1966.[4][5] It was later widened in 1974.[6]

The two outer bridges were constructed in 1979 with Umali-Pajara Construction Company as its general contractor. The length of the bridge from its two abutments is 114.44 meters (375.5 ft).[6] The outer bridges have ten lanes in total, and a junction at the Makati side of the bridge connects to J. P. Rizal Avenue. Each outer bridge is around 18.7 meters (61 ft) in width, has five lanes that are 3.35 meters (11.0 ft) each and a 1.2-meter (3.9 ft) pedestrian sidewalk near the railings.[7] Located on the median of the road bridge is the Guadalupe station of EDSA Carousel, which began operations in 2020.[8]

A separate but unconnected tied-arch rail bridge of the Manila Metro Rail Transit System Line 3 exists above the road bridge. The rail bridge, hovering above the road bridge and constructed by the EEI Corporation, has a length of 135 meters (443 ft) and a width of 9.1 meters (30 ft).[9]

According to a December 2013 report by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the Guadalupe Bridge has the highest traffic volume among the 12 main bridges in Metro Manila,[10] with 220,000 vehicles crossing the bridge daily.[7]

Planned renovation

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By 2016, the bridge had been identified as one of the structures expected to collapse following a hypothetical strong earthquake in Metro Manila.[11] Major repairs were done on the bridge in 2019.[12]

The outer bridges were replaced by three-span steel deck box girders, while the inner bridge, assessed by JICA to be in good condition, was retrofitted.[2] The pedestrian sidewalk was expanded to 1.5 meters (4.9 ft) while the outer bridges remained at ten lanes in total.[13]

Retrofitting works on the bridge, funded by JICA, are scheduled to begin in October or November 2025, involving a partial closure.[14][15]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "The project for study on improvement of bridges through disaster mitigating mesures for large scale earthquakes in the Republic of the Philippines final report". Japan International Cooperation Agency: 25. December 2013.
  2. ^ a b de Vera, Ben; Esplenada, Jerry (2 September 2015). "Japan finances repair of 2 vital Metro bridges". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
  3. ^ Alcazaren, Paulo (February 24, 2024). "The road from Highway 54 toward a more inclusive and safe EDSA". The Philippine Star. Retrieved May 26, 2024.
  4. ^ "Bid Bulletin No. 3" (PDF). Department of Public Works and Highways. August 2022. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
  5. ^ Castro, Alex (12 September 2017). "These Photos of Makati From the Past Will Amaze You". Spot.ph. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
  6. ^ a b "Feasibility Study of the Guadalupe Bridge Rehabilitation Plan" (PDF). JICA. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
  7. ^ a b "The Project For Study on Improvement of Bridges Through Disaster Mitigating Measures for Large Scale Earthquakes in the Republic of the Philippines - Final Report" (PDF). JICA. December 2003. pp. 15–172. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
  8. ^ Dela Cruz, Raymond Carl (31 March 2021). "MRT-3 releases Edsa bus carousel pick-up, drop-off points". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
  9. ^ "Infrastructure - Finished Projects". EEI Corporation. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
  10. ^ "The Project For Study on Improvement of Bridges Through Disaster Mitigating Measures for Large Scale Earthquakes in the Republic of the Philippines - Final Report" (PDF). JICA. December 2003. pp. 15–134. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
  11. ^ Nacino, Alysha (25 June 2016). "What happens to Guadalupe Bridge during a quake?". Rappler. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
  12. ^ Sausa, Raadee (24 November 2016). "Guadalupe bridge to undergo major repair". The Manila Times. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
  13. ^ "The Project For Study on Improvement of Bridges Through Disaster Mitigating Measures for Large Scale Earthquakes in the Republic of the Philippines - Final Report" (PDF). JICA. December 2003. p. 15-174-15-176. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
  14. ^ Clapano, Jose Rodel; Villeza, Mark Ernest (May 7, 2024). "Magallanes flyover rehab starts next week". The Philippine Star. Retrieved May 8, 2024.
  15. ^ Taguines, Andrea (August 29, 2024). "Partial closure of Guadalupe Bridge to start October 2025". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved September 15, 2024.