39 beautiful bridges to drive through
For road trippers seasoned by years of long drives, the sight of a bridge is a break from the monotony of asphalt, concrete and structures on both sides of the highway.
To many motorists, including this columnist, bridges are a sought-after part of the road which offers a visual treat and an opportunity for a pit stop for a snapshot, a smoke, a water or snack break, or simply ogle at nature’s artwork painted by the hands of God no less.
Below is a guide to 39 of the most attractive bridges because of their engineering design, beautiful surroundings, Instagram worthiness, and X-factor, which you should not pass up in case you happen to drive through them.
And while driving, play Sergio Mendes’ 1966 hit song “Bridges” and feel the romance behind this often-ignored portion of the highway.
1. Panguil Bay. Opened a few months ago, this flagship project in Mindanao connects Misamis Occidental and Lanao del Norte and cuts the cumbersome RoRo ferry trip from Ozamis City to Kolambugan. The view is so panoramic that motorists can’t help but pull over for snapshots, while others take it to the extreme and set up picnic tables and beach umbrellas to watch the sunset … and the world go by.
2. Cebu–Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX). The country’s longest bridge at 8.9 km, this new icon in the Queen City of the South was built by the Metro Pacific Tollway Corp. Opened in 2022, it has already seen countless running events and vintage cars passing through its mesmerizing spans. A unique feature is a fenced service lane for bikers, pedestrians and joggers.
3. San Juanico. The record-holder for being the archipelago’s longest for almost 5 decades, it continues to enthrall motorists doing the Leyte to Samar crossing with its meandering contour. Tourists can also take the San Juanico Cruises to see it up close, dock in an islet, and be mesmerized by its evening Light and Sound Show.
4. Marcelo Fernan. Named after a former Cebuano Supreme Court Chief Justice, it is also known as the Mandaue – Mactan Bridge 2, it was opened in the late 1990s and is the shortest link between the mainland, the island and the airport.
5. Sergio Osmena Jr. This 864-meter, 2-lane truss bridge is the first Mandaue – Mactan link opened in 1973, and driving across it brings sheer nostalgia of Cebu’s more laid-back years.
6. Agas-Agas. Situated in Sogod, Southern Leyte, this prestressed concrete 350-m beam bridge is the country’s tallest with a dizzying height at 89 meters from the ground, and at one time had a zipline and a cable car.
7. Patapat Viaduct. This 1.3-km two-lane single carriageway has a breathtaking panorama along Luzon’s northernmost coast in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte. The fourth longest in the Philippines, it has figured in countless postcard-perfect snapshots long before the advent of the Internet.
8. Jones. Rebuilt after World War 2, it is the gateway to Binondo, the world’s oldest Chinatown. In recent years, it has become a social media sensation with the restoration of the La Madre sculptures and the installation of colonial-era style street lamps. With the redevelopment of the Pasig River Esplanade around the burnt Manila Central Post Office, this bridge has become a vantage point for IG-worthy shots with Singapore feels.
9. Binondo-Intramuros. A 680-m tied-arch four-lane bridge across the Pasig River which connects the two historic business and heritage districts of Manila. It is a favorite photo corner by motorists, riders and joggers for its steel bowstring arch design with inclined arches.
10. Catangnan. Located at the far end of Gen. Luna surfing town in Siargao, it is monikered as “AFAM Bridge” due to the foreigners who abound in the area. Towards dusk, tourists and locals alike flock here to gaze at the kaleidoscopic sunset while enjoying street food and cold drinks, or jumping to the river below.
11. Zapote. A short stone arch bridge which separates Las Pinas and Cavite, this traffic hellhole has been given a new lease on life by showcasing its vital role in our revolutionary struggle. It was the site of major battles with Spaniards in 1987 and the Americans in 1899. The area was redeveloped along with a linear park along the dredged Zapote River, and a monument of Gen Edilberto Evangelista and freedom fighters who died in the 1897 battle.
12. Puente de Malagonlong. A well-preserved five-span 445-ft long stone arch bridge built in 1841 in Tayabas, Quezon, and is the longest bridge made during the Spanish era, using some 100,000 adobe blocks. Aside from this, there are 10 other stone bridges in the area which were collectively declared by the National Museum as National Cultural Treasure.
13. Binongtuan. Situated in Basey, Samar this is popularly known as Golden Bridge and the waterway below it as Golden River because of a precolonial legend of a golden bell dropped by a tribal chieftain. It is a major link in the Spark Samar tourism circuit and the Mabaysay Tour offered by local operators.
14. lloilo. Also known as Diversion Bridge, this eight-lane girder is the busiest and most popular among the 11 bridges across the Iloilo River, and forms an integral part of the award-winning Esplanade project. It has manicured landscapes, walkways, bike lanes, fitness areas and pocket parks where you can try to catch fish.
15. Aliwagwag. Situated in Cateel, Davao Oriental, it is the only bridge with a mesmerizing view to a waterfalls, Aliwagwag, which has more than 130 curtain-like cascades.
16. New Clark City. This new six-lane 894-m infrastructure icon crosses over the Sacobia River and is part of the Clark International Airport access road which connects New Clark City and the Clark Freeport Zone. It is also ideal go-to place for runners and two-wheel riders.
17. Calaba. The country’s longest modular bridge at 900 m, it spans the mighty Abra River in Bangued and has provided ease of mobility to the locals. In the past, people had to board a ferry to cross the river and often gets interrupted during high waters.
18. Capiz. Built by Spain in 1841 and rebuilt by the Americans in 1946, this iconic bridge is an integral part of Roxas City, which lends an Old World charm to a growing urban center.
19. Biliran. This 150-m bridge and its central span, is held by an arched steel structure, hovers above Poro Island and a channel which connects Leyte to the island province of Biliran, which is known for powdery beaches and waterfalls.
20. Bamban. Long before POGO hubs made this Tarlac town popular, its bridge has been a sight to behold because of its 174-m basket handle Nielsen-Lohse structure, one of the longest of its kind and the first in the Philippines.
21. Rafel Palma. Named after former University of the Philippines president Rafael Palma, this short bridge at the UP Los Banos campus in Laguna takes you back in time with its American era looks. There are several small bridges within the campus which has figured in period movies and teleseryes.
22. Clarin. This 2-year old, two-lane, 104-m span is the country’s second Nielsen-type bridge which replaced an old collapsed bridge. Named after Senator Jose Clarin of Loay, Bohol whose ancestral house lies nearby, it crosses lower Loboc River which is sought-after for its native-themed lunch cruises aboard rafts.
23. Loboc. A short concrete bridge near the población with no remarkable engineering qualities, but with an almost unequalled view of a green river with boat cruises passing round-the-clock.
24. Borja. The second connection of Tagbilaran City and Dauis town in Bohol, this causeway is touristic because of the restaurants lined up and the confluence of a beautiful landscape and seascape. And just like an open public space, it teems with people waiting for the sunset, feasting on barbecue and drinks, or chatting with friends.
25. Batu. A 390-m bridge in Nueva Vizcaya which offers a panoramic view of the Sierra Madre and Caraballo ranges, the shallow crisscrossing river below, and the mountain and farm resorts of Bayombong.
26. Bato. Despite the destruction brought by typhoon Pepito to Catanduanes, this scenic bridge in Bato town is unscathed and continues to evoke that movie set atmosphere of a century-old church and a quiet river which empties into the sea.
27. Buscalan. Adventurers seeking to be tattooed by Kalinga “mambabatok” Whang-od need not do the long mountain trek with the newly-opened 137-m hanging bridge leading to this remote village in the hinterlands of Tinglayan town.
28. Buntun. The longest in Luzon, this 1.3-km bridge has 14 Japanese steel spans offers an unobstructed, view of the Cagayan River, the widest and longest in the archipelago, and connects Tuguegarao City to adjoining towns and provinces.
29. Makati-Mandaluyong. For bikers like us, this bridge has an irresistible urban appeal with the meandering Pasig River and the eclectic blend of the old quarters and skylines of both cities.
30. Aluling. Jocularly called the “country’s longest bridge” because of the 35 years of on-and-off construction from 1978 to 2013, this 180-m connection links Ilocos Sur and Mountain Province, and serves as a shortcut to the Cordillera region.
31. Bugallon. A 360-m bridge across the meandering Agno River, it connects the towns of Bugallon and Lingayen in Pangasinan and a favorite spot for religious fluvial processions, as well as touristic events with the restaurants and recreational areas on its river banks.
32. Abbag. Tucked in the interiors of the Sierra Madre ranges, this bridge in Nagtipunan, Quirino links with the Aurora province. With very few vehicles passing by, you can tarry a little longer and marvel at the majestic mountains and the rapids of the Cagayan River.
33. Maragondon. At the far end of Cavite is this bridge which connects this town with the next-door beach hideaway Ternate. From here, you can view the verdant Maragondon River, the greeneries at the riverbanks, and bamboo raft cruises taking tourists for a joy ride.
34. Rosario. Frequent travelers to the north won’t miss this charming bridge which serves as the provincial boundary of Pangasinan and La Union, punctuated by a lovely welcome arch which reflects the artistry of the Ilocos region.
35. Padsan. This bridge component of the Rodolfo Farinas Jr. By-Pass Road in Laoag, diverts motorists from the bustling city proper to the northern portion of Ilocos Norte where most of the attractions are located.
36. Banaoang. Also called as the New Quirino Bridge near Vigan, it is parallel to Ilocos Sur’s old poster image of Quirino Bridge which got swept by a massive flood last year. Just the same, the current link never fails to beckon motorists to pull over for a few snapshots on both sides of the Lagben River.
37. Diosdado Macapagal. A 908-m cable-stayed bridge which forms part of Butuan’s Bypass Road and crosses the Agusan River, the waterway which helped the growth of the city’s timber industry.
38. Uacon. Of the many equally scenic bridges in Zambales, this one in Candelaria tops my list because of the confluence of so many water features which have made it our kayaking playground—the gray beaches, the powdery sands of Potipot Island, the inviting river and the placid Lake Uacon.
39. Sula. Tucked in the interior town of Bacacay, it connects mainland Albay to Cagraray Island which has made travel to the posh Misibis Bay Resort and adjacent attractions easier. The area boasts of lush vegetation and the pristine water of Sula Channel which empties into Albay Gulf.
