ILOILO City – Circuitous routes are greeting motorists today as construction crews install the first set of girders on the P480-million flyover being constructed in Barangay Ungka II, Pavia, Iloilo.
There’s going to be a temporary road enclosure – from the U-turn slot near the exit of the Christ the King in Barangay Ungka, Jaro district up to the intersection of Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr. Avenue and President Corazon Aquino Avenue (Circumferential Road), according to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Region 6.
The weeklong traffic shift starts today, March 15, until Sunday, March 21, every 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
“The closure cannot be avoided due to the limited construction area that could accommodate our equipment during the girder installation,” said Lea Delfinado, director of DPWH-6, citing the “proper positioning of equipment so as to effectively lift and launch the girders” in particular.
“The area must be cordoned for the safety of the workers and the general public,” she stressed.
VEHICLES DETOUR
The department, in coordination with the local government unit of Pavia, set these alternative routes:
* For motorists from Balabago, Jaro district; Leganes and Dumangas going to Iloilo City:
1. Circumferential Road to Barangay Tacas–Quintin Salas–Jaro Plaza
2. Circumferential Road–Buhang–Jaro Plaza
3. Iloilo Capiz Road (New Route)–Jaro Plaza
*For motorists from Iloilo City going to central towns (Sta. Barbara, Cabatuan, Maasin, Janiuay, Lambunao, and Calinog)
1. Jaro–Quintin Salas–Barangay Tacas–Pavia Road
2. Jaro–Circumferential Road–City Mall Pavia–Pavia
3. Jaro–Mandurriao–Jibao-an–Circumferential Road–Pavia
* For motorists from central towns
1. Pavia–Barangay Tacas–Quintin Salas–Jaro Plaza
2. Pavia–Barangay Jibao-an–(Bangga Singko)–Mandurriao
3. Sta. Barbara–Taft Street–Agutayan Road–Pagsanga-an Road–Tacas, Jaro district
4. Pavia–Circumferential Road–Old Railway Road–Ungka ITGSI Terminal
PAVIA LGU ‘READY’
Mayor Laurence Anthony Gorriceta assured the municipal government’s preparedness on the temporary closure.
“Para ma-aware ang motorists nga may re-routing kita, may mga signage naman nga ginbutang sa city especially dira sa crossing pa lang sang Taft North, Mandurriao district, as well as diri sa Pavia,” Gorriceta told Panay News.
More traffic auxiliaries – there were 47 so far – would also be prepositioned in Barangay Ungka II to confront vehicle flow, especially during rush hours.
The LGU has also been coordinating with Jeck Conlu, chief of the Public Safety and Transportation Management Office (PSTMO) of Iloilo City, for the management of the said alternate routes.
PRIVATE VEHICLES
A soft appeal for private vehicles: avoid traversing the Old Railway Road.
Pavia Sangguniang Bayan member Jose Maria “Pyt” Trimañez, chairperson of the committee on transportation, is encouraging drivers of private vehicles to take other routes “kon wala man lang sang importante nga kaladtoan or baklon sa tatlo ka malls.”
He was referring to the three neighboring malls in Ungka – City Mall, Robinson’s Place Pavia and GT Mall Pavia.
“Kung pwede pa man lang likawan ta nga mag-agi sa sini nga rota so that it could give way sa mga PUJs (public utility jeepneys) naton or emergency vehicles coming from Aganan (Pavia),” Trimañez told Panay News.
Project contractor International Builders Corp. began the actual construction in January 2020.
The construction of the 453.70-meter flyover (including the approaches, protection and right of way) will take 18 months, the DPWH-6 earlier said.
The completed flyover will stretch from the Petron gasoline station up to the intersection of the Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr. Avenue and the road leading to Parc Regency Subdivision./PN
