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The Samal Island–Davao City connector bridge is 40% complete
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The P19 billion SIDC Bridge is designed as a four-lane, toll-free extradosed bridge spanning 4.76 kilometers, directly linking the northeastern part of Davao City to the northwestern section of Samal Island
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Once operational, the SIDC Bridge is expected to accommodate up to 25,000 vehicles daily, significantly improving mobility between Davao City and Samal Island
The Samal Island–Davao City (SIDC) connector bridge is 40% complete, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said in a statement.
During a site inspection on July 18, DPWH senior undersecretary Emil Sadain reaffirmed DPWH’s commitment to upholding the highest standards of quality, safety, and environmental stewardship in constructing the bridge.
Targeted for completion within the term of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the P19-billion SIDC Bridge is designed as a four-lane, toll-free extradosed bridge spanning 4.76 kilometers (km), directly linking the northeastern part of Davao City to the northwestern section of Samal Island. It connects the R. Castillo–Daang Maharlika Junction in Davao City to the Samal Circumferential Road, with landing points located in Barangay Vicente Hizon Sr., Davao City, and Barangay Limao, Samal Island. The project was officially launched in 2022.
Once operational, the SIDC Bridge is expected to accommodate up to 25,000 vehicles daily, significantly improving mobility between Davao City and Samal Island. Travel time across the Davao Gulf will be reduced from 55 minutes by ferry to just 4.5 minutes, greatly easing dependence on ferry services for residents, commuters, and tourists.
According to Sadain, the bridge incorporates marine and land viaducts, approach roads, ramps, and a main bridge span designed to support both road and maritime transport.
The main bridge, an extradosed span measuring 275 meters, will feature a 47-meter vertical navigation clearance, ensuring safe passage for maritime vessels. It will also include two pylons rising 77 meters above mean sea level, the maximum allowable height set by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines due to the bridge’s proximity to Francisco Bangoy International Airport.
Other structural components of the SIDC Bridge include 477.5 meters western marine viaduct, 570 meters land viaduct, 1,320.33 meters interchange ramp, and 806.91 meters approach road on the Davao City side; and 637.5 meters eastern marine viaduct, 395 meters land viaduct, and 280 meters approach road on the Samal Island side.
Sadain said environmental safeguards have been central to the bridge’s construction, particularly in protecting the marine ecosystems of the Pakiputan Strait. A comprehensive environmental assessment guided the project’s alignment and design to minimize impacts on marine biodiversity and water flow.
“To maintain water quality during the construction of bridge columns and foundations, silt curtains and sediment control measures have been deployed. Construction practices follow environmental best practices, including the immediate removal of debris or concrete waste from marine areas,” Sadain said.
The bridge’s design also allows for unimpeded longshore currents and ensures the free circulation of seawater, helping maintain the ecological balance of the strait.
DPWH said it is working closely with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, whose teams conduct diving assessments to monitor seagrass beds, shallow waters, marine protected areas, and deep-water zones affected by construction activities.
More than just a physical link, DPWH said the SIDC Bridge represents “a long-term investment in regional development, mobility, and sustainability—connecting communities, creating opportunities, and supporting the government’s vision for inclusive growth.”
