MANILA, 1 May (PIA) – The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) announced that Ayala Bridge in Manila will fully open on June 11, 2015.
Secretary Rogelio L. Singson said that the movement of dates was to ensure the safety of the public and due to the complexity of the rehabilitation activities on the bridge’s superstructure and retrofitting works on its substructure.
The DPWH earlier announced that partial re-opening of the bridge to light vehicles by mid-May.
Singson also explained that part of the works for the full rehabilitation of the four-lane steel truss-type Ayala Bridge to restore its structural integrity is the strengthening of existing abutments and pier foundations and the construction of continuous slab design with additional 4” slab on the bridge deck.
The 139-lineal meter bridge with a total superstructure width of 25 meters will also be lifted by 70 centimeters for freeboard clearance of navigating vessels along Pasig River.
The lifting of the bridge, first in the Philippines, commenced last April 22 utilizing heavy lifting system which is being used to lift bridges, buildings and other structures worldwide.
Ayala Bridge was susceptible then to damage from passing barges and tugboats because of limited freeboard clearance, and also at serious risk from seismic or earthquake forces inasmuch as it was subjected to major repair in 1957.
Meanwhile, the DPWH also said that existing bridge approaches and the access road to Hospicio de San Jose will also be reconstructed to suit the new bridge elevation on the existing horizontal alignment. (DPWH/RJB/JEG/PIA-NCR)
