The Luzon-Samar Bridge is a proposed bridge to connect the islands of Luzon and Samar in the Philippines. The bridge is also referred to as the Matnog-Allen Bridge, named after the ports that currently connect the two islands.
The Luzon-Samar Bridge is estimated to be 18.2 km in length, which is just over half of the length of the current longest bridge in Southeast Asia. The future Bataan–Cavite Interlink Bridge will be the longest bridge in the Philippines (32.15 km).
The bridge is one of two missing links in the Pan-Philippine Highway (the Maharlika Highway), with the other missing link being between Leyte and Mindanao. The two bridge projects are referred to as the Luzon-Samar-Leyte-Mindanao Linkage Project.
These two bridges would enable road travel from Luzon to Mindanao without ferry travel.
[Maharlika Highway map via Wikimedia.]
A feasibility study was conducted in 2018, but the project was shelved in 2019 due to its economic viability and financial cost.
The project was revived again in 2023, and another feasibility study has been sought.
Luzon-Samar Bridge map
[Map of Luzon-Samar Bridge.]
Links and resources
News archive
2024
Matnog-Allen bridge project secures P100-M feasibility grant – [14/07/24]
“The House of Representatives is set to allocate P100 million for a comprehensive feasibility study on the construction of a bridge linking Matnog, Sorsogon, to Allen, Northern Samar.”
2023
DPWH: 2 bridges to end stranding during storms – [27/11/23]
“In a bid to end the perennial problem of stranding of passengers during bad weather, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has moved forward on projects to link Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao through bridges with the help of Japanese experts.”
Luzon-Samar bridge project pushed – [23/11/23]
“Think tank Infrawatch PH is pushing for the immediate construction of the proposed Luzon-Samar bridge to provide additional means of transporting passengers and goods between Luzon and Eastern Visayas.”
Japanese experts check proposed Luzon-Samar Bridge – [13/11/23]
“The IDI-Japan team visit is part of the response to the Eastern Visayas Regional Development Council resolution for the second feasibility study of the Sorsogon-Samar bridge after the initial study in 2019 found the project “not economically viable.””
Pre-feasibility study for Luzon-Samar, Leyte-Mindanao Bridges to start this week – [10/11/23]
“The construction of Luzon-Samar Bridge and Leyte-Mindanao Bridge will cut travel time between major islands and fill in the missing gaps of the country’s main trunk line Maharlika Highway, currently spanning more than 3,500 kilometers from Luzon to Mindanao.”
E. Visayas council seeks new study of Sorsogon-Samar bridge – [05/10/23]
“The Eastern Visayas Regional Development Council (RDC) is pushing for the second feasibility study of the Sorsogon-Samar bridge after the initial study in 2019 found the project “not economically viable.””
Rep. Libanan pushes Luzon-Visayas bridge – [04/09/23]
“A bridge connecting Visayas and Luzon should be constructed under the government’s ‘Mega Bridge Program’ as this would help sea congestion and address passengers being stranded during typhoons.”
2020
Over P300-B required to build Luzon-Samar long span bridge – [14/01/20]
“The study has identified two feasible options to construct Sorsogon-Samar Link Bridge. The first is the construction of a 24-kilometer crossing bridge with an estimated cost of PHP284 billion.
It consists of three long-span bridges – Allen to San Antonio in Northern Samar, San Antonio to Capul in Northern Samar, and Capul, Northern Samar to Matnog, Sorsogon. The construction timetable is six years.
Another alternative is to build a PHP257 billion deep tunnel, which requires nine years to complete based on the document obtained by the Philippine News Agency (PNA) from NEDA regional office here.”
2019
Duterte admin shelves 3 flagship infra projects as ‘unfeasible’ – [25/10/19]
“The Matnog, Sorsogon connecting Samar, we found to be unfeasible from the feasibility study in terms of economic viability and financial [cost]”.
Duterte’s bridges linking Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao shelved – [23/10/19]
“…Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia said the 18-kilometer bridge that was supposed to connect Samar to Sorsogon will not be pushing through.”
2018
Samar-Luzon bridge up for full-blown study: NEDA – [30/08/18]
“The proposed 18.2-kilometer bridge connecting Samar to the main island of Luzon has been highly considered for full-blown feasibility study in the next 12 months, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) has reported.”
Gov’t to build 8 bridges connecting Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao – [19/04/18]
“…18.2-kilometer bridge connecting Luzon and Samar islands”.
2017
Gov’t needs P193.58-B to build Leyte-Surigao, Sorsogon-Samar bridges – [07/03/17]
“The Sorsogon-Samar project has a combined length of 25.4 kilometers. It consists of three long span bridges – Allen to San Antonio in Northern Samar (4.9 kilometers), San Antonio to Capul in Northern Samar (8.5 kilometers), and Capul, Northern Samar to Matnog, Sorsogon (12 kilometers).”
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