An extradosed bridge between two islands in the south of the Philippines is 41% complete.
In an inspection report, the Philippine Department of Public Works and Highways says that substructure work is underway on the 4.8km two-way, four-lane bridge that connects Davao City and the Island Garden City of Samal in Mindanao. It has a vertical navigational clearance of up to 47m.
Visualisation of the Samal-Davao Bridge. Credit: DPWH
Contractors have lowered the steel caisson cofferdam for the navigation file cap on the Samal side. And on the Davao side, the seal concrete bottom slab has been installed and workers are preparing to lower the caisson.
Once completed, the bridge will reduce travel time between Davao City and Samal Island, which depends on a ferry service, from 55 minutes to just four and a half minutes. It is expected that the bridge will be used by 25,000 vehicles a day.
The US$365 million project is funded by the Chinese government (link opens in new tab).
