ILOILO City – The whole stretch of the P680-million four-lane Ungka flyover in Barangay Ungka II, Pavia, Iloilo will open to traffic today.
Engineer Jose Al Fruto, assistant regional director of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Western Visayas, confirmed that the two-lane right portion of the flyover (for vehicles bound for the Iloilo Airport, Pavia, Santa Barbara, Cabatuan, Badiangan, Bingawan, Calinog, Janiuay, Lambunao, and Maasin towns) will open anytime today.
Its two-lane left portion was the first one to open to traffic on June 30.
“Yes, mabukas na sia bwas (Monday). Indi lang kita makahambal kon what time pero mabukas na sia,” Fruto told Panay News in an interview yesterday afternoon, Sept. 4.
Fruto further said they will release guidelines on what vehicles are allowed to use the flyover. He said they will possibly implement the same guidelines or limitations when it was first partially opened; trucks, bicycles and tricycles were not allowed.
The only vehicles allowed to pass by the left lane were private and public utility vehicles, and motorcycles.
Motorists are again advised to follow the maximum speed limit set for the flyover – 50 kph.
The full opening of the Ungka flyover is expected to ease traffic congestion in the area, especially during rush hours.
The flyover can also reduce travel time to the Iloilo Airport to some 20 minutes only from the current 40 to 45 minutes, according to Regional Director Tiburcio DL Canlas of DPWH-6.
A “topping out” ceremony was held on April 25.
In construction, topping out (sometimes referred to as topping off) is a rite traditionally held when the last beam (or its equivalent) is placed atop a structure during its construction. It also signifies that the structure being built has reached its maximum height (not that the project has reached completion).
Former Ilonggo senator Franklin Drilon who pushed for the flyover’s construction graced the topping out ceremony, along with Iloilo City mayor Jerry Treñas, Iloilo governor Arthur Defensor Jr., Iloilo second district congressman Michael Gorriceta, Pavia mayor Laurence Anthony “Luigi” Gorriceta, and other city and local officials.
Drilon said the Ungka flyover is essential for the economic growth of the city and province of Iloilo, adding that he fought for the construction of the Ungka and Aganan flyovers because he saw its big impact on the lives of the Ilonggos especially the motorists.
“We fought hard to secure the funding of Ungka II flyover and the Aganan flyover. Together this structure will help ease the traffic congestion in the city of Iloilo. Aganan flyover will be finished by the first quarter of the next year. With the two flyovers, that will be the biggest flyovers in the country outside of Manila,” he added.
The four-lane Ungka flyover is 453.7 lineal meters long on bored pile foundation, including the approaches.
Its construction 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)./PN
