Incredible plans for £2.3bn bridge link set to take six years to build | World | News

A six year project to build a 20-mile bridge in the Philippines has been formally approved with a detailed engineering design nearly finalised.

The ambitious build was approved by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) with a budget of 175.7 billion Philippine Pesos, the equivalent of £2.3bn.

The Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge is expected to slash travel times between the region of Bataan, on the northern shores of the Manila Bay and the province of Cavite, located on the southern shores.

The current journey between the two areas takes approximately five hours, but the direct road route set to be established by the multi-billion pound bridge will take just 45 minutes.

Once the project is completed, the Bataan-Cavite Bridge will become the longest bridge in the country, overtaking the 8.9 kilometre Cebu-Cordova Bridge.

The funding for the project will be drawn primarily from two key investors, the Asian Development Bank and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, with remaining funds paid by the Philippine government.

The four-lane bridge will connect the towns of Mariveles in Bataan and Naic in Cavite.

Cavite is one of the fastest growing provinces in the Philippines with a population of over 4.3 million people.

The Philippines Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is currently working to establish deals with contractors for different stages of the construction process.

DPWH Undersecretary Maria Catarina Cabral has previously indicated that the project is likely to be very challenging due to the transport of materials between the two regions which are separated by the waters of the Manila Bay.

Construction on the bridge was due to begin in late 2023 but was initially delayed until early 2024 before being pushed back again to 2025.