THE PEDESTRIAN bridge that will link the Terminal 3 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) to Newport City will open by the first half of next year, part of efforts to ease traffic in the country’s main gateway and provide easy access for tourists to the malls, hotels and residences in the area.
Known as “Runway Manila,” the 220-meter elevated bridge 17.8 meters above Andrews Ave. is designed to accommodate up to 2,000 passengers at any time, or up to 216,000 persons per day, officials of the departments of Transportation and Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said yesterday.
“Once completed, Runway Manila will allow the average person to walk the distance between the airport and Newport City in approximately 10 minutes ... the bridge is for the benefit and free use of the public,” Public Works Secretary Mark A. Villar said during a briefing on the link bridge construction.
Mr. Villar said the project -- which is 80% constructed -- will be opened for public use “at the latest by the second quarter of 2017” or “hopefully sooner.” It is targeted to be completed by the first half of 2017.
Citing the Manila International Airport Authority, he noted that NAIA Terminal 3 has the capacity to handle 13 million international passengers annually.
The elevated bridge will be fully enclosed, air-conditioned with moving walkways and elevators and will be in operation 24 hours a day and seven days a week. The project is funded by the Travellers International Hotel Group Inc., a partnership between Alliance Global Group, Inc. (AGI) and Malaysia’s Genting Group, which currently operates Resorts World Manila in Pasay City.
The bridge is seen to contribute to easing the traffic situation in the area since instead of the travel time to exit NAIA Terminal 3, passengers could instead walk to the Newport City.
“Making such an alternative available and freely accessible to the public would lessen dependence on motor vehicles to travel the short distance between the two tourist hot spots. Through Runway Manila, travellers can use Newport City as a convenient jump-off point to reach other parts of the metropolis,” DPWH said in a separate statement, adding that Newport is accessible to City Link buses and other means of public transport.
Transportation Chief Arthur P. Tugade for his part said the move is part of the government’s efforts “not only to reduce vehicular traffic congestion but also to ensure mobility and livability of cities.”
“Rest assured, this will not be the last. There would be more bicycle lanes, pedestrian-friendly facilities constructed,”he said.
Meanwhile, in a related development, DPWH’s Mr. Villar said the toll road linking Terminals 1, 2 and 3 of the NAIA will be fully opened “by first quarter of next year” or at the “latest by the second quarter.
One lane however will be opened by this year.
In September, DPWH said motorists were allowed to use the portion of the NAIA Expressway Project Phase 2 that links Terminals 1 and 2 to Macapagal Boulevard, which is near the Entertainment City casino complex. -- Imee Charlee C. Delavin
“Once completed, Runway Manila will allow the average person to walk the distance between the airport and Newport City in approximately 10 minutes ... the bridge is for the benefit and free use of the public,” Public Works Secretary Mark A. Villar said during a briefing on the link bridge construction.
Mr. Villar said the project -- which is 80% constructed -- will be opened for public use “at the latest by the second quarter of 2017” or “hopefully sooner.” It is targeted to be completed by the first half of 2017.
Citing the Manila International Airport Authority, he noted that NAIA Terminal 3 has the capacity to handle 13 million international passengers annually.
The elevated bridge will be fully enclosed, air-conditioned with moving walkways and elevators and will be in operation 24 hours a day and seven days a week. The project is funded by the Travellers International Hotel Group Inc., a partnership between Alliance Global Group, Inc. (AGI) and Malaysia’s Genting Group, which currently operates Resorts World Manila in Pasay City.
The bridge is seen to contribute to easing the traffic situation in the area since instead of the travel time to exit NAIA Terminal 3, passengers could instead walk to the Newport City.
“Making such an alternative available and freely accessible to the public would lessen dependence on motor vehicles to travel the short distance between the two tourist hot spots. Through Runway Manila, travellers can use Newport City as a convenient jump-off point to reach other parts of the metropolis,” DPWH said in a separate statement, adding that Newport is accessible to City Link buses and other means of public transport.
Transportation Chief Arthur P. Tugade for his part said the move is part of the government’s efforts “not only to reduce vehicular traffic congestion but also to ensure mobility and livability of cities.”
“Rest assured, this will not be the last. There would be more bicycle lanes, pedestrian-friendly facilities constructed,”he said.
Meanwhile, in a related development, DPWH’s Mr. Villar said the toll road linking Terminals 1, 2 and 3 of the NAIA will be fully opened “by first quarter of next year” or at the “latest by the second quarter.
One lane however will be opened by this year.
In September, DPWH said motorists were allowed to use the portion of the NAIA Expressway Project Phase 2 that links Terminals 1 and 2 to Macapagal Boulevard, which is near the Entertainment City casino complex. -- Imee Charlee C. Delavin
