Carpenter Bridge (Iloilo)

(New) Carpenter Bridge
Coordinates	10°42′0.47″N 122°32′32.97″E / 10.7001306°N 122.5424917°E / 10.7001306; 122.5424917
Carries	2 lanes of vehicles, pedestrians, and bicycles
Crosses	Iloilo River
Locale	Iloilo City, Philippines
Named for	Frank Watson Carpenter
Maintained by	Iloilo City Government Department of Public Works and Highways - Iloilo City District Engineering Office
Preceded by	Old Carpenter Bridge
Followed by	Iloilo Bridge II
Characteristics
Design	Beam bridge
Material	Reinforced concrete
Total length	115 m (377 ft)[1]
Width	12.1 m (40 ft)[1]
Traversable?	yes
No. of spans	4
Piers in water	3
Clearance below	6.1 m (20 ft) at mean tide
No. of lanes	2 (1 per direction)
History
Inaugurated	2008
Location

Old Carpenter Bridge
Coordinates	10°42′00″N 122°32′33″E / 10.700131°N 122.542492°E / 10.700131; 122.542492
Carries	Pedestrians
Crosses	Iloilo River
Locale	Iloilo City, Philippines
Maintained by	Iloilo City Government Department of Public Works and Highways - Iloilo City District Engineering Office
Preceded by	Iloilo Bridge
Followed by	New Carpenter Bridge
Characteristics
Design	Beam bridge
Material	Reinforced concrete
Traversable?	yes
History
Inaugurated	1911
Location

The Carpenter Bridge is a pair of bridges spanning the Iloilo River in Iloilo City, Philippines, consisting of the original bridge, which has been converted into a pedestrian walkway and is part of the Iloilo River Esplanade, and the new bridge, which serves vehicle traffic. It was named after Governor Frank Watson Carpenter, the first civilian governor of the Moro Province (Department of Mindanao and Sulu) in Mindanao.^[2]

The original Carpenter Bridge is one of the oldest bridges in Iloilo City, spanning the Iloilo River.

The original Carpenter Bridge was built in 1911 during the American colonial period, replacing a bamboo bridge that connected Molo and Mandurriao. In the 2000s, the bridge faced structural issues and was rehabilitated rather than demolished due to its historical value. It was subsequently transformed into a promenade, connecting the Iloilo River Esplanade on both sides of the river.^[3][4]

In 2008, a new two-lane bridge was constructed adjacent to the old bridge to accommodate passing vehicles.^[5][6]

• Iloilo River Esplanade