The construction of the Estrella-Pantaleon Bridge connecting Estrella Street in Makati City and Barangka Drive in Mandaluyong City is 78.5 percent complete, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) reported on Monday.

DPWH Secretary Mark Villar said the construction of the bridge is on track for the opening this year.

The expansion of the Rockwell Bridge into a two-way, four-lane bridge is expected to greatly improve vehicular movement between the two highly urbanized cities of Metro Manila.

Once fully completed, Villar said it will be able to accommodate around 50,000 vehicles per day

The undertaking is part of the Metro Manila Logistics Improvement Program to ease heavy traffic along Edsa.

The Estrella-Pantaleon Bridge is one of the two grant bridges from the People’s Republic of China, the other being the Binondo-Intramuros Bridge project which will connect the historic Walled City of Intramuros and Manila’s commerce and trade district of Binondo. (PNA)