Ayala Bridge

Ayala Bridge
Ayala Bridge in 2020
Coordinates	14.591°N 120.999°E / 14.591; 120.999
Carries	Four lanes of N180 and C-1, vehicular traffic and pedestrians
Crosses	Pasig River
Locale	Manila
Other name(s)	Puente de Ayala
Maintained by	Department of Public Works and Highways – South Manila District Engineering Office
Preceded by	Quezon Bridge
Followed by	Mabini Bridge
Characteristics
Material	Steel
Total length	142 m (466 ft)
Width	23.5 m (77 ft)
No. of spans	2
Piers in water	1
Load limit	20 t (20,000 kg)
No. of lanes	4 (2 per direction)
History
Constructed by	Don Jacobo Zóbel y Zangroniz
Construction start	1872
Rebuilt	1908 and 1930s
Location

Ayala Bridge (Filipino: Tulay ng Ayala; Spanish: Puente de Ayala) is a steel truss bridge over the Pasig River in Manila, Philippines. It connects the districts of Ermita and San Miguel, passing over the western tip of Isla de Convalecencia. It carries Circumferential Road 1 (C-1) and National Route 180 (N180), linking Ayala Boulevard in Ermita to P. Casal Street in San Miguel.

History

2015 rehabilitation of the bridge.

Ayala Bridge was originally two separate timber-built bridges (divided into the "San Miguel" and "Concepcion" sections after each side's point of origin, converging into Isla de la Convalecencia) when it was first built in 1872 by Don Jacobo Zóbel y Zangroniz of Casa Róxas (the present-day Ayala Corporation).

Scarcely 10 years after it was opened to traffic, the bridge's condition had degenerated considerably that in 1899, the "San Miguel" portion collapsed, with "Concepcion" following suit months later. Steel became the main material in 1908, and Ayala Bridge became the first steel bridge in the Philippines. Its current form is attributed to a 1930s reconstruction, when it was decided to unify the bridge in a singular route.

Ayala Bridge was closed to the public in early 2015 to undergo rehabilitation and structural repairs to ensure structural integrity. It was raised by 70 centimeters (28 in), enabling it to withstand a 7.2 magnitude earthquake. The bridge fully reopened to the motorists in November 2015.

Every January 9 of the year since 2020, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority annually closes the bridge from car passage for a procession during the Feast of the Black Nazarene after it was rerouted from Jones Bridge which has been recently retrofitted.

See also

• List of crossings of the Pasig River