The Sta. Monica-Lawton Bridge now dubbed Kalayaan Bridge is finally opened having been inaugurated just in time as the country celebrates 123rd Independence Day on June 12, 2021.
Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark A. Villar said that the inauguration of Kalayaan Bridge connecting Lawton Avenue in Makati City and Sta. Monica Street in Pasig City is a fitting Independence Day gift of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to the general public who will be relieved from traffic congestion going in and out of Makati/BGC Taguig and Pasig/Mandaluyong City.
“With the opening of this bridge, DPWH is a few steps closer into 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 Secretary Villar.
The ceremonial opening of the bridge was attended by Executive Secretary Salvador C. Medialdea; Transportation Secretary Arthur P. Tugade; BCDA Chairman Vince B. Dizon; MMDA Chairman Benhur Abalos; DPWH Undersecretary Emil K. Sadain; DPWH Assistant Secretary Wilfredo S. Mallari; Pasig City Congressman Roman T. Romulo; Makati City Congressman Luis N. Campos; Taguig City Congresswoman Maria Laarni L. Cayetano; Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto; Makati City Mayor Abigail S. Binay; Taguig City Mayor Lino S. Cayetano; DPWH Project Directors Virgilio Castillo, Benjamin A. Bautista, Ramon A. Arriola, and Johnson V. Domingo; DPWH Project Manager Ricarte S. Mañalac and Project Engineer Emmanuel Regodon; and among other government officials.
Extensive coordination, collaboration and adapting to the new normal helped the DPWH Unified Project Management Office (UPMO) team overcome the challenges in the execution of project through the pandemic.
According to Undersecretary Sadain, in-charge of DPWH UPMO Operations, the 1.367-kilometer BGC-Ortigas Center Link Road Project which involves the construction of Sta. Monica-Lawton Bridge, rehabilitation and widening of 362-meter Brixton (corner Reliance Street) to Fairlane Street, and construction of 565-meter Lawton Avenue – Global City Viaduct which will traverse Lawton Avenue to the entrance of BGC is part of a bigger EDSA Decongestion Program.
The viaduct structure traversing Lawton Avenue up to the entrance of BGC is targeted for completion by the last quarter of 2021.
When fully completed, the bridge and road project will be able to accommodate as much as 20 percent of the traffic volume of EDSA and C-5 Road.