A major infrastructure upgrade aimed at improving commuter safety and reducing traffic disruption is set to begin as JFE Engineering Corp. and First Balfour Inc. join forces for a ₱7.7-billion seismic strengthening project on two of Metro Manila’s oldest and busiest bridges.
The joint venture, named JFE Engineering-First Balfour Joint Venture (JFE-FB JV), recently signed a contract with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to implement the Metro Manila Priority Bridges Seismic Improvement Project (MMPBSIP). The project is being funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
Targeting the Guadalupe Bridge in Makati City and the Lambingan Bridge in Santa Ana, Manila, the initiative is part of the government’s broader push to improve disaster resilience and keep vital transport links secure and reliable.
The Guadalupe Bridge, which handles nearly 400,000 vehicles daily, will see its outer spans replaced with steel box girders, while new piers and retrofitted abutments will boost its structural integrity. To avoid major traffic disruptions, temporary steel detour bridges will be installed during construction.
Meanwhile, the 50-year-old Lambingan Bridge, used by over 30,000 vehicles each day, will be demolished and replaced with a new arch-type steel bridge, offering improved durability and earthquake resistance.
The project is expected to start soon, with the Notice to Proceed set to be issued in the coming weeks. Once completed, the upgraded bridges are expected to ensure safer, more reliable commutes for hundreds of thousands of daily travelers.
JFE Engineering brings decades of global infrastructure expertise, while First Balfour, part of the Lopez Group, is known for its role in landmark Philippine projects such as the Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway and the North-South Commuter Railway.
