Particularly for an archipelago like the Philippines, bridges are crucial architectural features. It enables people to travel cheaply by land and without taking any unnecessary risks while travelling by air or water. In reality, bridges are often built to mark the borders between two locations.
Now that we’re talking about the longest bridges in the Philippines, there are some fantastic buildings you might want to look at. The Philippines’ longest bridges are listed below.
1. Metro Manila Skyway
The 10 km long and 17 km long Metro Manila Skyway, which also includes the Bicutan-Alabang portion, is the longest bridge in the nation and the country’s first completely grade-separated road. In Metro Manila, it is an elevated freeway that crosses the existing South Luzon Expressway (SLEX).
Also Read: Top 10 oldest schools in the Philippines
2. Candaba Viaduct
“Pulian-Apalit Bridge” is another name for the Candaba Viaduct. It is a five kilometre long, four lane bridge on the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX). It was created by Aas-Jakobsen and constructed by Construction Development Corporation of the Philippines (now Philippine National Construction Corporation). Additionally, the route is kept available to traffic even when the Candaba Swamp floods during the rainy or monsoon season because to the elevated viaduct that crosses it.
3. San Juanico Bridge
With a length of 2.16 kilometres, the San Juanico Bridge is one of the longest in the Philippines. It crosses the San Juanico Strait from Samar to Leyte as a section of the Pan-Philippine Highway. Its largest length is a steel girder viaduct, and its primary span is a truss with an arch shape. It can be reached via bus, private automobile, motorcab, or passenger jeepney. The project, which cost $21.9 million and took four years to complete, began in 1969. Imelda Marcos, the wife of Ferdinand Marcos, was also honoured with a bridge dedication.
4. Narciso Ramos Bridge
In the Ilocos Province of Pangasinan, there is a bridge named for Narciso Ramos. It connects the municipalities of Asingan and Sta. Maria in the Pangasinan province over a distance of 1.442 kilometres. One of former President Fidel V. Ramos’ most significant achievements, the bridge was inaugurated in 1997.
5. Buntun Bridge
One of the longest bridges in the Philippines is regarded as being the Buntun Bridge. It is 1.369 miles long and connects Tuguegarao City to Solana, Cagayan, crossing the enormous Cagayan River (the largest river basin in the country). It was built with travellers who wanted to cross the Cagayan River in mind. The bridge has often been referred to as the entrance to Tuguegarao City.
The Buntun Bridge features a total of 15 spans, each long enough to support a truck weighing more than 18 tonnes. Construction and Development Corporation of the Philippines was hired to complete the 4.6 million USD project (now the Philippine National Construction Corporation).
Also Read: Top 10 Richest City in the Philippines
6. Patapat Viaduct
In Ilocos Norte’s Pagudpud municipality is where you can find the Patapat Viaduct. It runs the length of the Maharlika Highway from the Ilocos Region to the Cagayan Valley and is elevated 31 metres above sea level. It is also one of the province’s most picturesque and popular photogenic locations.
Two lanes of traffic are available on the concrete coastline bridge. Hanil Development Co., Ltd. built it, and it was finished in October 1986. Both the San Juanico Bridge and the Patapat Viaduct were built under the Marcos period, which accounts for the similarities between the two highways.
7. Marcelo Fernan Bridge
The Marcelo Fernan Bridge is a 1.237 km long, extra-dosed cable-stayed bridge that is part of Metro Cebu. It is the second bridge, and it has four lanes, that connects Mactan to the rest of Cebu. The Japanese government assisted in its construction, and it opened in August 1999.
8. Magat Bridge
The 0.926 km long Magat Bridge is a road bridge in Cabatuan, Isabela that was built in 1991 during the Corazon Aquino government.
9. Macapagal Bridge
The longest bridge in Mindanao is the Macapagal Bridge, which is situated in the province of Agusan del Norte on the outskirts of Butuan City. It connects the Philippine-Japan Friendship Bridge to the Butuan-Cagayan-Iligan Road, being 0.9076 kilometres in length. It was a project for the inhabitants of Butuan funded by the Japan Bank for International Cooperation, and it was finished in May 2007.
The bridge was pushed by ex-President Fidel V. Ramos, sanctioned by ex-President Joseph Estrada, and finally built under ex-President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
10. Mactan Bridge
The Serging Osmea Bridge, often known as the Mactan Bridge, links Mandaue City and Lapu-Lapu City in Metro Cebu. One of the two bridges that traverse the Mactan Channel, it has a length of 0.864 kilometres. It was built in the 1970s, under the late President Ferdinand Marcos’ administration. Then, in 1972, it was opened for 65 million pesos.
