Ayala Bridge

{{Infobox Bridge

| bridge_name = Ayala Bridge

| image = Pasig River, Ayala Bridge (Manila; 01-01-2020).jpg

| caption = Ayala Bridge in 2020

| official_name =

| other_name = Puente de Ayala

|carries = Four lanes of {{jct|country=PHL|N|180}} and C-1, vehicular traffic and pedestrians

| crosses = Pasig River

| locale = Manila

| owner =

|maint = Department of Public Works and Highways – South Manila District Engineering Office

| id =

| architect =

| designer =

| design =

| material = Steel

|length = {{convert|142|m|abbr=on}}{{cite web|url=https://www.dpwh.gov.ph/dpwh/gis/dbi|title=Detailed Bridge Inventory|website=Department of Public Works and Highways|accessdate=March 17, 2021}}

|width = {{convert|23.5|m|abbr=on}}

| height =

| mainspan =

| number_spans = 2

| piers_in_water = 1

| spans =

| pierswater =

|load = {{convert|20|t|kg|abbr=on}}{{cite news|url=https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/726100/ayala-bridge-rehab-to-go-on-until-december|title=Ayala Bridge rehab to go on until December|last=Agoncillo|first=Jodee A.|newspaper=The Philippine Star|date=September 29, 2015|access-date=June 11, 2020}}

| clearance =

| below =

| life =

| builder = Don Jacobo Zóbel y Zangroniz

| lanes = 4 (2 per direction)

| fabricator =

| begin = 1872

| rebuilt = 1908 and 1930s

| complete =

| cost =

| open =

| inaugurated =

| toll =

| traffic =

| preceded = Quezon Bridge

| followed = Mabini Bridge

| collapsed =

| closed =

| replaces =

| map_image =

| map_width =

|coordinates = {{coord|14.591|120.999|region:PH_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}

| references =

| extra =

}}

The Ayala Bridge ({{Langx|fil|Tulay ng 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

File:2015 Ayala Bridge rehabilitation.jpg

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){{efn|The bridge was also sometimes called Puente de la Convalecencia.{{Cite web|url=https://philippineculturaleducation.com.ph/puente-de-convalecencia/|title=Puente de la Convalecencia}}}} when it was first built in 1872 by Don Jacobo Zóbel y Zangroniz of Ayala y Compañía (now Ayala Corporation).

Roughly ten years after opened, the bridge's condition had degenerated considerably. In 1899, the San Miguel portion collapsed, with the Concepcion portion following suit months later. In 1908, the bridge became the first steel bridge in the Philippines. Its current form is attributed to a 1930s reconstruction, during which 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 its integrity. It was raised by {{convert|70|cm|sp=us}}, enabling it to withstand a 7.2-magnitude earthquake. The bridge fully reopened to motorists in November 2015.{{cite news|last=Salazar|first=Cherry | title=New technology lifts Ayala Bridge|url=http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2015/04/26/1447994/new-technology-lifts-ayala-bridge|access-date=July 11, 2015|newspaper=The Philippine Star|date=April 26, 2015}}

Every January 9 of the year since 2020, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority has closed the bridge for use as procession route during the Feast of the Black Nazarene.{{cite web | url=https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1208489/traslacion-2020-to-use-ayala-bridge-for-procession-route | title=Traslacion 2020 to use Ayala Bridge for procession route | date=January 2, 2020 }}