The Department of Transportation (DoTr) is aiming to complete the P89.1-million Kamuning Footbridge and EDSA Busway Station rehabilitation by December.

DoTr Secretary Vince Dizon said Thursday the project will replace the notoriously steep “Mt. Kamuning” footbridge, which has long been criticized for being difficult to use for the elderly, people with disabilities and those carrying heavy loads.

“When the President saw this, he was really dismayed,” Dizon said, referring to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. “He said pedestrians and commuters should not be made to suffer, so he immediately ordered the removal of the Mt. Kamuning footbridge.”

The project will include station rehabilitation, a new footbridge with elevators and manlifts, and new safety measures.

The upgraded station and footbridge will feature mobility and accessibility enhancements, including two elevators, two manlifts, vertical louvers for shade, tactile paving for the visually impaired and improved signage.

Dizon cited that the new footbridge will be a prefabricated structure to avoid disruptions for commuters and motorists.

“The President said our commuters cannot wait any longer,” Dizon said. “They have been enduring hardships for a long time, so we will speed up its construction.”