Kalayaan Bridge connecting Makati, Pasig now open
DPWH celebrates Independence Day by partially opening Sta. Monica - Lawton Bridge
It may have been delayed, but the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has partially opened a key segment of the BGC-Ortigas Center Link Road during the 123rd celebration of the country's independence last June 12, 2021.
The Sta. Monica - Lawton Bridge, now called the Kalayaan Bridge, connects Lawton Avenue in Makati City and Sta. Monica Street in Pasig City to help motorists get from Makati/BGC to Pasig/Mandaluyong faster and easier. Aside from connecting the two cities, the bridge will also relieve both C-5 Road and EDSA of traffic as it will serve as an alternate route for motorists.
“With the opening of this bridge, DPWH is a few steps closer to completing the entire BGC-Ortigas Center Link Road Project that will reduce travel time between Bonifacio Global City and Pasig City/Mandaluyong City to only 12 minutes,” said Mark A. Villar, DPWH Secretary.
Key members from various government agencies and city officials attended the ceremonial opening of the bridge. These included DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade, MMDA Chairman Benhur Abalos, Executive Secretary Salvador C. Medialdea, DPWH Undersecretary Emil K. Sadain, Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto, Makati City Mayor Abigail Binay, and Taguig City Mayor Lino Cayetano.
With the 440-meter Kalayaan Bridge now partially open to traffic, the DPWH will now focus on fully completing work on the BGC-Ortigas Center Link Road. Currently, the agency is busy finishing the 565-linear meter Lawton Avenue – Global City Viaduct, another key component of the bridge that has now reached the Kalayaan Avenue intersection.
Aside from that, workers are also busy with the final finishing activities for the Kalayaan Bridge, the up and down ramps to Kalayaan Avenue, and the construction of the viaduct structure from Lawton Avenue in Makati City.
Once the entire project is finished, Villar says around 20% of traffic volume on EDSA and C-5 Road can be accommodated by the BGC-Ortigas Center Link Road. The DPWH estimates that the project will be complete before 2021 ends.
