San Juanico Bridge - 9 Things to Know Before Visiting

The bridge was completed in 1973 and is considered to be one of the most beautiful bridges in the Philippines. Visitors to San Juanico Bridge can enjoy stunning views of the strait, as well as of the nearby mountains and islands. They can also go for a walk or bike ride along the bridge, or take a boat ride underneath it.

The San Juanico Bridge spans the San Juanico Strait between the provinces of Samar and Leyte in the Philippines. It is considered as one of the country's most important bridges, as it connects the two most populous islands of Visayas: Samar and Leyte. The bridge was constructed during the Marcos administration from 1969 to 1972 at a cost of US$22 million. It was opened to traffic on March 18, 1973. Upon its completion, it became the longest bridge in the Philippines and held that title until 1984 when the Cebu-Mactan Bridge was completed.

The bridge was originally designed to have a live load capacity of 60 metric tons (59 long tons; 66 short tons) but was upgraded to accommodate 80 metric tons (79 long tons; 88 short tons) in 2003. In 2006, the structure was again strengthened to carry vehicles weighing up to 100 metric tons (98 long tons; 110 short tons).

Aside from its economic importance, the San Juanico Bridge has also become a popular tourist destination in recent years, with visitors coming from all over the world to admire its beauty and experience its amazing views.

The bridge has been featured in several films and television shows, including Regine Velasquez's music video "Pangarap ko ang ibigin ka", which was shot entirely on the bridge.

If you are planning to visit this magnificent work of engineering, the best time to go would be during the daytime so that you can get a full view of it. You can also go early in the morning or late in the evening to catch a glimpse of the sunset or sunrise. However, avoid going during typhoon season as San Juanico Bridge is prone to flooding and strong winds which can damage the structure.

1. Arrive early morning or late evening to avoid the midday heat and crowds. The best time to visit is either in the early morning or late afternoon.
2. Wear comfortable shoes. There is a lot of walking involved in visiting the bridge, so you'll want to make sure you're wearing comfortable shoes.
3. Don't forget to bring sunscreen and water. The sun can be incredibly strong in the Philippines, so it's important to stay hydrated and protected from the sun's harmful rays.

1. The San Juanico Bridge has a total of 42 spans, with each span measuring 50 meters (164 feet) in length.
2. The main span of the bridge is 165 meters (541 feet) long, making it the longest span among all the bridges in the Philippines.
3. The total length of all the cables used in the construction of the bridge is 11,700 meters (38,412 feet), which is enough to circle around Manila three times.
4. The bridge has awidth of 12 meters (39 feet), comprising two 3.5-meter (11-foot) lanes and two 1.5-meter (5-foot) sidewalks.
5. The original design of the bridge called for a bascule type drawbridge at its center
6. The San Juanico Bridge was built with financial assistance from the government of Japan. 

Most people find that an hour is enough to take in the scenery and snap some pictures. Visitors spend an average of 30 minutes crossing it by car. There are several viewing platforms along the length of the bridge, which offer panoramic views of San Juanico Strait and the surrounding islands. 

To reach the San Juanico Bridge, visitors can take a bus or jeepney from Tacloban City. The journey takes around 1 hour, depending on traffic conditions. There are also several tour companies that offer day trips from Tacloban, which include stops at other key attractions in the area.

The entrance fee for private vehicles is PHP200 (US$3.85), while the toll for buses and trucks is PHP400 (US$7.70). Motorcycles are exempted from paying the toll fee. The collected toll fees are used to pay the loan used to construct the bridge.