PRES. FERDINAND MARCOS JR. | PHOTO FROM RADIO TELEVISION MALACAÑANG (RTVM)
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday led the inspection of the newly completed 1.34-kilometer Bucana Bridge spanning the Davao River.
Marcos arrived at the site around 10:08 a.m. and was welcomed by Mindanao Development Authority Chair Leo Tereso Magno and Davao del Norte Rep. Jose Manuel Lagdameo.
The ₱4.34-billion project is partly funded through China’s Official Development Assistance.
The four-lane, five-pylon, double-cable plane extradosed prestressed continuous girder bridge is expected to cut travel time from the city’s south to the downtown area to about 30 minutes.
Marcos said the bridge is part of the bypass network being built around Davao City to ease traffic congestion.
He said travel time that previously took nearly two hours will be reduced to 25 minutes when the bridge opens on December 15.
The entire bypass project is targeted for completion by December 2027, according to the President.
Marcos noted that the Chinese contractor used advanced construction technology that allowed the project to be finished faster.
He said the bridge was approved in July 2022, with construction beginning in late 2023, and is now ready for use.
The President lauded the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for its work and said the bridge is among four “legacy projects” set for completion in Davao and nearby areas.