By Nova Mae Francas
THE DAVAO River Bucana Bridge is 15.7% complete five months after construction started, according to the Department of Public Works and Highways regional office.
The project started in November 2023 following the signing of the civil works contract between DPWH and China Road and Bridge Corporation, the same company constructing the Samal-Davao City Connector project.
DPWH said the latest accomplishment was based on the inspection report of DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan, through DPWH infrastructure flagship projects in-charge Senior Undersecretary Emil Sadain.
“The assigned engineers from the Unified Project Management Office-Bridges Management Cluster (UPMO-BMC) and contractor China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) have shown an impressive display of efficiency and dedication in overcoming challenges and pushing forward the physical accomplishment to 15.7 percent,” DPWH on their Facebook post on April 26.
Sadain, along with the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Philippines Minister Counselor Yang Guoliang, and other officials conducted a project visit on April 26.
Accomplishments noted during their visit included completed bored piles for abutment 0, bored piling activities for piers 1 and 2, continuous embankment works, installation of geo-tubes for approach 0, and construction of batching plant and temporary steel craneway.
To recall, Bonoan and Guoliang signed on April 24 the Supplementary Implementation Agreement confirming the general construction cost, survey & design and consultant cost, and project management cost that will be charged to the grant to the Philippines as per the Exchange of Letters signed on November 2018.
The cost of the bridge is funded by the Government of the Philippines and China Aid Grant with a total contract cost of ₱3.126 Billion.
Bucana Bridge is a four-lane, six-span extra-dosed bridge spanning 1.34-kilometer, including approach roads, and is an integral part of the Davao City Coastal Bypass Road traversing from Roxas Avenue to Bago Aplaya.
“Bucana Bridge holds immense importance for Davao City in promising enhanced connectivity, improved transportation networks, and bolstered economic development opportunities in Southern Mindanao,” DPWH added.
DPWH targets the completion of the bridge in November 2025 and is expected to open to traffic by the first quarter of 2026.
