Скачать или смотреть Manila Diaries: Lagusnilad Pedestrian Underpass

The Lagusnilad Underpass refers to the pedestrian underpass in Manila, Philippines which connects the Manila City Hall and Intramuros. It also refers to the nearby vehicular underpass where part of the Taft and Padre Burgos Avenues merge.

History
The Lagusnilad vehicular underpass is said to be the first in the Philippines and in Asia. The underpass was built in the 1960s as a replacement to the at-grade road intersection of Taft and Padre Burgos Avenues near the Manila City Hall. It was named as "Lagusnilad" by the city government of Manila during the tenure of Mayor Antonio Villegas.

The vehicular underpass was prone to flooding from around the 1980s to the early 2010s due to high level of rainfall during the monsoon season. Water flowing from the Intramuros Golf Course also contributes to the flooding. By 2014, this problem was remedied by the installation of new pumping system and cleaning of the underpass' drainage in 2014 during the administration of then-Mayor Joseph Estrada.

Prior to the 2020s, the pedestrian underpass is reputed for its high incidence of crime as well as vendors doing business in stalls in its walkway including a thrift bookstore. The walkway was decorated by tiles and white-painted walls.

In 2019, Mayor Isko Moreno started a major renovation of the pedestrian underpass. In preparation for the renovation, illegal vendors were cleared from the walkway. The Manila city government partnered with University of Santo Tomas College of Architecture alumni John Benedict Fallorina, Sean Patrick Ortiz, Leon Centeno Tuazon, and faculty member Juanito Malaga, MTLA; and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts for the underpass’ overall design.

The renovated pedestrian underpass was inaugurated on August 24, 2020 where a 25-meter-long (82 ft) mural depicting significant figures and events throughout the history of Manila was unveiled. The mural also featured frontliners and civil servants as a tribute to their efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic. As part of the redesign, many features were implemented to address previous common complaints about the pedestrian underpass.

In 2023, the vehicular underpass underwent rehabilitation initiated by the city government, starting with a partial closure on May 2, followed by a complete closure on June 13. It reopened to the public on November 28, 2023, with new lighting installed on both sides and solar studs on the flooring.