BLOGS
2023, Year of Connections: Mindanao’s Longest Bridges
The Philippines has many bridges, most scattered throughout the different provinces. But the most notable one people always want to see would be the bridges in Mindanao since many long bridges stretch for miles on end. Many of these bridges are located near prime areas in Mindanao, making it easier for residents of luxury condos in Davao to access essential amenities such as hospitals, schools, and shopping centers.
Mindanao is set to be connected by some of the longest bridges in the world. Find out how these new developments are transforming the region here.
Macapagal Bridge
Across the Agusan River in Butuan, Agusan del Norte is the steel cable-stayed Macapagal Bridge. This bridge is located on Mayor Democrito D. Plaza II Avenue, popularly known as the Butuan Bypass Road. It is the longest bridge in Mindanao at 908 m or 2,979 ft in length. It is also the third-longest cable-stayed bridge in the Philippines, behind the Marcelo Fernan Bridge and the Cebu-Cordova Bridge.
When construction workers called it Second Magsaysay Bridge about the existing Magsaysay Bridge, the bridge was eventually dedicated to the memory of Filipino President Diosdado Macapagal in 2007. Development assistance aid from Japan Bank for International Cooperation totaling PH2.2 billion was used to fund the construction of the bridge and the 13.1 km (roughly 8.1 mi) Butuan Bypass Road, both designed to alleviate traffic congestion on the Agusan-Misamis Oriental Road in central Butuan.
Panguil Bridge
Panguil Bay Bridge will be the longest bridge in the Philippines spanning 3.77 kilometers or 2.34 miles and connecting Tangub in Misamis Occidental with Tubod in Lanao del Norte. When finished, it will overtake the San Juanico Bridge as the longest bridge in the Philippines. On November 27, 2018, the bridge’s groundbreaking ceremony took place. The first day of construction was Tuesday, February 28, 2020. Kyong-Ho Engineering and Architect Co. Ltd. of South Korea is in charge of building the bridge using funding from the Korean Economic Development Cooperation Agreement.
The Philippines government will pay for anything that the loan can’t cover. Project completion as of June 2022 is over 50%, and initial operations are anticipated to begin in 2023. When finished, it will slash the 2.5-hour commute time between Tangub and Tubod down to a matter of minutes.
San Pedro Cantiasay Footbridge
A wooden bridge unlike any other, the San Pedro Cantiasay Footbridge is a must-see for anybody visiting the island. The bridge is considered a tourist attraction in Surigao City, particularly among the residents of the Nonoc Islands. This wooden pedestrian bridge is 391 meters in length, making it one of the longest such structures in the country. It spans the gulf between Sibale as well as Nonoc Islands in Mindanao’s Surigao Province.
Walking across the wooden bridge is just the highlight of any trip to the area. Once out on the open water, a stroll up to the ship’s bridge will reward you with a stunning panorama of the Nonoc Islands, coral reefs, and marine life. Learn why it’s worthwhile to walk between these two islands. You’ll get to know the locals, most of whom make their living from the sea, and their way of life on this island.
Guicam Bridge
The proposed Guicam Bridge in Zamboanga Sibugay, Philippines, will span a distance of 1.2 kilometers (or 0.75 miles) connecting the cities of Alicia and Mabuhay, both located in the province’s southernmost region. The island of Olutanga, which includes the towns of Mabuhay, Talusan, and Olutanga, will be linked to the rest of Mindanao Island by means of a bridge that spans the Canalizo Strait. With the help of the development corporation of the Philippines.
With its completion, the Panguil Bay Bridge between Tangub, Misamis Occidental as well as Tubod, Lanao del Norte will span 3.77 kilometers or 2.34 miles, making it the longest bridge in Mindanao. Formerly, the Macapagal Bridge in Butuan, Agusan del Norte held this title.
Davao River Bridge
In 2015, work began to expand the Davao River Bridge from two lanes to six lanes. Due to right-of-way and technical difficulties in the first year of the expansion project, the focus was shifted to the upstream section of the bridge. Vicente T. Lao Construction did the 2017 work to enlarge the bridge’s upstream end.
The downstream segment of the bridge was widened by a joint venture between Roma Development and Construction Corporation and Bislig Venture and Development Inc. between 2017 and 2018. On May 24, 2018, the Philippine president, Rodrigo Duterte, officially opened the bridge after it had been finished on April 18. Those seeking a luxurious lifestyle in Davao may find what they are looking for in the form of a luxury condominium in Davao.
Buntun Bridge
Buntun Bridge, located in Tuguegarao City, Cagayan, is one of the longest bridges in the Philippines, measuring approximately 1.124 kilometers in length. It spans the Cagayan River, connecting the municipalities of Tuguegarao and Solana. While it is located far from Davao, those seeking a luxurious lifestyle in Mindanao may find it in a luxury condo in Davao.
Buntun Bridge is a vital transportation infrastructure in Cagayan Valley, facilitating the movement of people and goods between municipalities and provinces. It also offers stunning views of the Cagayan River, making it a popular destination for tourists and locals alike.
San Juanico Bridge
In the Philippines, the San Juanico Bridge connects the islands of Samar and Leyte across the San Juanico Strait. The longest section is an arch truss viaduct made of steel girders resting on concrete abutments. This bridge, which was built with Japanese ODA loans during President Ferdinand Marcos’s presidency, spans a total of 2.16 kilometers or 1.34 mi, making it the second-longest bridge in the Philippines to cross a body of water accessible to ships. Public funds were diverted through the controversial Marcos Japanese ODA scam to build the bridge as a personal present to Marcos’s wife Imelda.
It was one of Marcos’s more publicized foreign loan projects before the 1969 election for president. On Imelda Marcos’s actual birthday, July 2, 1973, four years after construction was finished, the building was dedicated. When it was finally finished, economists and public works engineers labeled it a white elephant, defined as “an asset that is useless but instead costly to upkeep or difficult to dispose of,” because the number of people using it on a daily basis was not high enough to warrant the money spent on its construction.
Mactan-Mandaue Bridge
The Mactan-Mandaue Bridge, also known as the Marcelo Fernan Bridge, is a landmark bridge that spans the Mactan Channel, connecting the island of Mactan to mainland Cebu. While it is not located in Mindanao, this bridge is still significant in terms of transportation infrastructure in the Philippines. For those seeking a luxurious lifestyle in Mindanao, a luxury condo in Davao may offer similar conveniences and amenities.
The Mactan-Mandaue Bridge was completed in 1999 and is considered one of the longest cable-stayed bridges in the country, measuring approximately 1.2 kilometers in length. It has become an iconic symbol of Cebu, attracting tourists and locals alike with its impressive design and stunning views.
Luxury condos in Davao offer similar attractions, with their elegant designs and stunning views of the city’s skyline. While not located near the Mactan-Mandaue Bridge, luxury condos in Davao offer easy access to other notable bridges in Mindanao, such as the San Juanico Bridge and the Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary Bridge.
Conclusion
The island of Mindanao in the Philippines is home to many of the country’s longest and most remarkable bridges. These bridges are absolutely necessary in order to connect the various regions of the island. By doing so, they make it possible for people and goods to move freely throughout the island, which in turn encourages economic expansion. Several of these bridges connect villages, but they also bring tourists to the region and bring attention to the breathtaking scenery that can be seen in Mindanao.
As Mindanao continues to grow and develop, the demand for quality housing has also increased. Luxury condos in Davao offer residents a luxurious lifestyle with easy access to Mindanao’s longest bridges, providing an opportunity to explore the island’s natural beauty and access to essential amenities.
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