Guadalupe Bridge repairs set for October 2025

A portion of Guadalupe Bridge along EDSA is set to be temporarily closed to traffic by October 2025 for rehabilitation, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) announced Thursday.

MMDA Acting Chairperson Romando Artes said the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will start the repairs on the outer lanes of the 60-year-old infrastructure after the construction of a temporary bridge.

“Hanggang hindi nagagawa ang temporary bridge, wala pong pagsasara na gagawin. Ang isasara lang dyan 'yung two outer lanes, 'yung nasa labas ng red lines. 'Yung inner lanes ng EDSA Guadalupe, di maapektuhan,” Artes told reporters in a media briefing.

(Until the temporary bridge is completed, there will be no closure. Only the two outer lanes outside the red lines will be closed. The inner lanes of EDSA Guadalupe will not be affected.)

“Ma-award nila ito probably December. January magsisimula ang preliminary work para sa pagp-plano ng temporary bridge, which will take three months to four months. 'Yung construction ng temporary bridge will be 10 months,” Artes added.

(The DPWH will probably complete the awarding for this by December. The preliminary work for planning the temporary bridge will begin in January, which will take three to four months. The construction of the temporary bridge will take 10 months.)

The rehabilitation work is expected to last for 17 months.

“Nakalagay sa terms of reference na once sinara kailangan mabuksan within 17 months. In effect, more or less 17 months ang construction ng outer lanes nitong Guadalupe bridge,” said Artes.

(It is stated in the terms of reference that once closed, it needs to be opened within 17 months. In effect, the construction of the outer lanes of this Guadalupe bridge will take more or less 17 months.)

Necessary

According to the MMDA, the rehabilitation of the bridge is “necessary” after an inspection showed that parts of it are “vulnerable to seismic activity.”

“Ito po ay necesssary dahil meron na kasing nakita..na medyo vulnerable na sya sa seismic activity dahil ang capacity niya ay mababa na at ang possibility na magkaroon ng liquefaction dun sa pinagtatayuan ng pundasyon ng Guadalupe bridge,” said Artes.

(This is necessary because it was already observed that it's somewhat vulnerable to seismic activity, given its low capacity and the possibility of liquefaction occurring at the foundation of the Guadalupe bridge.)

“Medyo hindi sigurado at baka magkaron ng epekto in case na magkalindol, even 'yung structure ng outer bridge ay medyo deteriorated na…Meron na ring ilang cracks. Talaga pong medyo priority talaga ito na ma-rehabilitate in preparation for the Big One,” he said.

(We are prioritizing its rehabilitation in preparation for The Big One. The original structure has somewhat deteriorated and parts of it have cracks.)

Meanwhile, the MMDA said operations related to Pasig River including the ferry service will not be affected by the impending closure.

“Ginuarantee ng DPWH na ang ferry service ay makakadaan pa rin sa Pasig River, ganun din ang barges na nagdadala ng kalakal. Walang effect insofar as the use of Pasig River is concerned,” Artes said.

(The DPWH guaranteed the ferry service and operations of barges will not be affected.)

In May, the DPWH announced it would undertake repair works on more major thoroughfares along EDSA, the country’s busiest highway, in efforts to strengthen the country’s current infrastructure.

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) recommended the retrofitting of the Guadalupe Bridge as early as 2012, after seeing cracks in its columns. --VAL, GMA Integrated News