Otis Bridge
View of the bridge northeastbound
Coordinates14°35′12.4″N 120°59′41.7″E / 14.586778°N 120.994917°E / 14.586778; 120.994917
CarriesVehicular traffic and pedestrians
CrossesEstero de Concordia
LocalePaco, Manila, Philippines
Maintained byDepartment of Public Works and Highways – South Manila District Engineering Office[1]
Characteristics
DesignGirder bridge
MaterialConcrete
Total length80 m (260 ft)
Width12 m (39 ft)
No. of spans1
Load limit15 metric tons (15,000 kg)
No. of lanes6 (3 lanes per direction)
History
Constructed byDepartment of Public Works and Highways
Opened1968 (original bridge)
2018 (new bridge)
Rebuilt2015
Location
Map

The Otis Bridge is a six-lane girder bridge crossing the Estero de Concordia, a tributary of the Pasig River, in Manila, the Philippines. Built in 1968 and carrying Paz Mendoza Guazon Street, formerly known as Otis Street (named after the American Governor-General Elwell Stephen Otis), the bridge is a major artery for commercial vehicles carrying cargo from the Port of Manila,[2] with some 10,000 trucks crossing the bridge daily.[3]

In 2015, the bridge was slated for replacement or reconstruction as it neared the end of its 50-year service life,[3] with ₱37,000,000 initially being allocated for construction work by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).[4] However, on June 26, 2018, the bridge was ordered closed by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on the advice of the Manila Disaster risk reduction Management Council,[5] after media reports showed that 20-foot (6.1 m) long cracks started appearing along the center island, caused by the number of overloaded trucks that used the bridge,[6] as well as construction work on the nearby Concordia Bridge which prevented its timely replacement.[4]

The bridge was reopened on December 4, 2018, three months ahead of the March 2019 target date, with ₱217,000,000 being allocated from the national budget for its replacement.[7][3] Construction took place 24/7 in phases until the project was completed.[6][8]

External links

References

  1. ^ "Detailed Bridge Inventory". Department of Public Works and Highways. Retrieved March 17, 2021.
  2. ^ Pornelos, Vince (June 26, 2018). "Otis Bridge in Manila closed due to partial collapse". AutoIndustriya.com. Double B Web Solutions Company. Retrieved June 26, 2018.
  3. ^ a b c Rey, Aika (June 26, 2018). "Otis Bridge in Manila closed for repairs until March 2019". Rappler. Rappler, Inc. Retrieved June 26, 2018.
  4. ^ a b Macairan, Evelyn (June 26, 2018). "Damaged Otis Bridge closed for reconstruction". The Philippine Star. PhilStar Daily, Inc. Retrieved June 26, 2018.
  5. ^ Orellana, Faye (June 26, 2018). "Otis bridge in Manila closed to traffic". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved June 26, 2018.
  6. ^ a b Zurbano, Joel E. (June 26, 2018). "MMDA to close Otis Bridge in Manila for rehab". Manila Standard. Philippine Manila Standard Publishing, Inc. Retrieved June 26, 2018.
  7. ^ Orellana, Faye (December 4, 2018). "DPWH announces opening of Manila's new Otis Bridge". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
  8. ^ Manabat, Johnson (December 4, 2018). "Otis Bridge reopens in time for Christmas rush". ABS-CBN News. ABS-CBN News. Retrieved December 5, 2018.


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