ILOILO City – Today, the flyover in Barangay Ungka II, Pavia, Iloilo is partially opening to traffic from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., specifically its left lane (when going to Pavia from Iloilo City).
The left lane will accommodate two-way traffic (Iloilo City to Pavia and Pavia to Iloilo City), said Engineer Ormel Santos, project engineer of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Region 6.
Motorists are advised to follow the maximum speed limit set for the flyover – 50 kph.
“But no trucks would be allowed to use the flyover,” Santos clarified.
The opening would hopefully ease traffic congestion in the area, especially during rush hours.
Why partial opening only?
“May olobrahon pa kami (right portion of the flyover). May finishings pa. Kalawig ina nga olobrahon,” said Santos.
He did not say when the right side would open to traffic.
There will be traffic enforcers and signs to director the flow of vehicles, said Santos.
For the convenience, however, of those going to the Iloilo Airport in Cabatuan town from Iloilo City, Santos said it would be better for them at this time not to use the flyover but the road below so they could turn left to the President Corazon Aquino Avenue (CityMall portion, Circumferential Road) proceeding toward Barangay Tacas, Jaro district that connects to Pavia Plaza.
This way, said Santos, they can avoid the traffic congestion in Barangay Aganan,
Pavia where another flyover is being constructed.
When completed, the P680-million flyover is seen reduce the travel time to the airport to some 20 minutes only from the current 40 to 45 minutes, according to Regional Director Tiburcio DL Canlas of DPWH-6.
The four-lane flyover is 453.7 lineal meters long on bored pile foundation, including the approaches.
The construction of the Ungka II flyover started last January 2020. It passes over the busy intersection of the Sen. Benigno S. Aquino Jr. Avenue (Diversion Road) and the President Corazon C. Aquino Avenue (Circumferential Road 1) and also aims to decongest the area./PN
