Bataan–Cavite Interlink Bridge

Bataan–Cavite Interlink Bridge
Coordinates	14°22′N 120°37′E / 14.37°N 120.62°E / 14.37; 120.62
Crosses	Manila Bay
Locale	Mariveles in Bataan and Naic in Cavite
Official name	Bataan–Cavite Interlink Bridge
Other name(s)	Trans Manila Bay Crossing Manila Bay Bridge
Characteristics
Total length	32.15 km (19.98 mi)
Traversable?	Yes
Clearance below	40.5 m (133 ft) (North Channel Bridge) 72.3 m (237 ft) (South Channel Bridge) 25 m (82 ft) (Nearshore Navigation Bridge)
History
Construction start	2025 (planned)
Construction end	2029 (projected)
Construction cost	₱175.7 billion (2020 estimate)
Location

The Bataan–Cavite Interlink Bridge, also known as the Manila Bay Bridge is a planned bridge which will cross Manila Bay and connect the provinces of Bataan and Cavite in the Philippines. Construction is expected to begin in 2025.

Then-Representative Felicito Payumo first proposed the construction of a bridge crossing Manila Bay in 1987, which he named as the Trans Manila Bay Crossing.^[1]

As chairman of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), Payumo attempted to realize the Trans Manila Bay Crossing as a bridge–tunnel system in the early 2000s. At least two Japanese firms, Itochu and NKK presented feasibility studies for the bridge–tunnel link to the SBMA^[2] but such plans were never realized.

In 2016, Payumo revived the proposal again, pitching the bridge as means to decongest traffic in Metro Manila and boost the economy. Comparing the proposed bridge to the Tokyo Bay Aqua-Line, Payumo has noted that commuters in Cavite and other parts of Southern Luzon do not need to pass through Metro Manila to reach Central Luzon if such bridge would be built.^[1]

China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC) began its onsite study as preparation for the possible construction of the bridge in late 2017. Its team first visited the coastal towns in Bataan.^[3]

The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) approved the bridge project in early 2020 with a budget of ₱175.7 billion. The implementation of the bridge project is projected to last six years.^[4]

In October 2020, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) signed a $59 million engineering design contract, awarded to the joint venture of T. Y. Lin International from the US and Korea's Pyunghwa Engineering Consultants Ltd., who are working in tandem with Geneva-based Renardet S.A. and local firm DCCD Engineering Corporation.^[5]

As of March 2023, the project's detailed engineering design is already 70% complete, according to DPWH. The construction of the bridge was targeted to start in 2024,^[6] but moved to 2025.^[7]

The Bataan-Cavite Bridge, envisioned to be one of the world’s longest marine bridges, is estimated to cost $3.91 billion to construct. The amount is set to be bankrolled through a multi-tranche financing scheme under which $2.1 billion will be financed by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) while $1.14 billion will be co-financed by the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). The remaining $664.23 million will be funded by the Philippine government.^[8]

On December 12, 2023, the ADB announced it has approved the $2.1 billion funding it promised for the construction of this bridge.^[9] On December 15 of the same year, the Philippine government, through the Department of Finance (DOF), and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed the first tranche of the financing for this project, worth $650 million of the total $2.1 billion loan package.^[10] On the other hand, AIIB announced that their share of first tranche funding, worth $350 million, will be available to the Philippine government by January 2024.^[11]

On May 22, 2024, AIIB announced that the loan for the bridge was approved, with a total cost of US$1.14 billion.^[12][13]

Construction was projected to start around 2024.^[14] The bidding process for the first package is set to begin in January 2024. Construction of the bridge is estimated to take five years to complete.^[15]

The detailed engineering design of the mega bridge project and the bidding of the initial contract package has been completed and is planned to be funded through an official development assistance (ODA). The construction's planned starting schedule has been moved to early or mid 2025.^[7]

The Bataan–Cavite Interlink Bridge will be 32.15 kilometers (19.98 mi) long, of which 25.8 kilometers (16.0 mi) will be over the waters of Manila Bay. The four-lane bridge will connect the towns of Mariveles, Bataan and Naic, Cavite. The bridge will consist of three navigation bridges (North Channel Bridge, South Channel Bridge and Nearshore Navigation Bridge), marine viaducts, and a vehicle turnaround located east of Corregidor Island narrow tail with a provision for a possible road connection to the island.^[4][16]

The starting point will be located in Barangay Alas-asin near the Mariveles Freeport Area through a trumpet interchange to be built in Roman Superhighway, then 2 cable-stayed bridges called the North Channel Bridge (main span of 400 meters) and South Channel Bridge (main span of 900 meters) will be constructed with the marine bridges standing in water as deep as 50 meters, before terminating in Barangay Timalan Balsahan, Naic, Cavite at a partial cloverleaf interchange to be built in Antero Soriano Highway with a provision to a full cloverleaf interchange for a possible future connection to Cavite–Laguna Expressway. The Detailed Design Engineering Phase of the project is expected to last 15 months.^[17][16]

The bridge will have clearances below of 40.5 m (133 ft) (North Channel Bridge) and 72.3 m (237 ft) (South Channel Bridge) to allow large ships to pass under it since Manila Bay is a major shipping route accommodated by the Port of Manila. A shorter Nearshore Navigation Bridge (main span of 150 meters) located on the southern segment of the marine viaduct will have clearance below of 25 m (82 ft), which is designed for smaller commercial vessels.^[3][16]