The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said it expects to open the Bucana Bridge Project, which spans the Davao River, to motorists by the last quarter of 2025.
DPWH senior undersecretary Emil Sadain said the 1,340-meter Bucana Bridge Project is now 94 percent complete. The entire superstructure is finished, with only minor work remaining, including installing traffic barriers and pedestrian railings, painting the 19.5-meter-high pylons, and preparing for the waterproofing and asphalt overlay of the bridge deck.
Construction on the approach roads is ongoing. Work includes laying and compacting embankment soil, preparing the subbase course, installing a drainage system, building a concrete fence and installing guardrails.
The Bucana Bridge, an integral component of the Davao City Coastal Bypass Road, is being built by the DPWH Unified Project Management Office – Bridges Management Cluster, with China Road and Bridge Corp. as the civil works contractor. The bridge will connect the eastern and western coastal areas of the city, which are currently separated by the Davao River.
Sadain said that as the Bucana Bridge nears its official opening, it “stands not only as a vital infrastructure asset for Davao City but also as a symbol of strong bilateral cooperation and the Philippines’ commitment to building resilient, future-ready infrastructure through strategic global partnerships.”
Funded through a P3.126-billion China Aid Grant program from the Government of the People’s Republic of China, the Bucana Bridge is a landmark achievement of sustained international cooperation and high-quality project implementation.
Also referred to as the China Aid Localized Project for the Davao River Bridge, the Bucana Bridge serves as a critical component of the Davao City Coastal Road Network.
This project supports the “Bagong Pilipinas” vision, which seeks to drive regional development, improve traffic flow and enhance the quality of life through modernized infrastructure.
Construction of the bridge began in November 2023. Once completed, it will significantly ease traffic congestion in downtown Davao, offering a faster, safer and more efficient route between Barangays 76-A Bucana and Matina Aplaya.
The bridge features a four-lane, six-span extradosed structure measuring 480 meters, complemented by 860 meters of approach roads.
