President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Thursday inspected the newly completed Bucana Bridge, a key segment of the ongoing Davao City bypass road project that he said will sharply cut travel time for motorists once it opens to the public this month.
The President arrived in Davao City with Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon and other officials from the national government.
The 1.3-kilometer bridge, scheduled for public opening on December 15, is projected to reduce travel time across the area from nearly two hours to as short as 20 to 25 minutes, according to the President.
The structure forms part of the multi-year bypass network intended to ease congestion across the city’s major arteries.
“It is a 1.3-kilometer bridge. This is part of the entire bypass being done around Davao City,” President Marcos said during the inspection.
“The trip that used to take almost two hours will now take only about 20 to 25 minutes. It’s a big relief, especially now that we’re going to work,” the president added.
President Marcos said the entire bypass is expected to be completed by December 2027.
Approved in July 2022, the project broke ground in late 2023 and moved at a pace, Mr. Marcos credited to the technology and efficiency of Chinese contractors working alongside the government.
He said the bridge was completed “quickly, beautifully, and reasonably priced,” noting it as an example of infrastructure delivery at reduced construction time.
He noted that the bridge is one of four legacy infrastructure projects his administration aims to finish in Davao and nearby areas. Several sections of the bypass have already been opened.
President Marcos congratulated the DPWH and project personnel involved in the construction, saying the bridge would mark another milestone once traffic begins to pass through later this month.
