BY RHENJNIE MARIE CALANTAS
ILOILO – The flyover in Barangay Ungka II, Pavia town may reopen to traffic by December of this year.
Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Region 6 assistant regional director, Engr. Jose Al Fruto, said this during the “question hour” with the Sangguniang Bayan (SB) of Pavia yesterday.
“If we can start the jet grouting not later than the end of October, and we can do it in the period of 45 days, we are looking into middle of December to complete it. Muna nga ginapayo gid naton to complete everything on or before December 15, do the testing, and open the flyover before Christmas,” said Fruto.
The newly-built P680-million flyover is undergoing repair. Three of its piers have vertical displacement or settlement.
Jet-grouting is a trenchless method that utilizes grout to stabilize ground conditions within a project site. When employing this method, a small-diameter hole is drilled to the required depth, and as the drill string is lifted out of the ground, grout is injected into the borehole, forming a solid column in the ground. The grout may be a cementitious, resinous, or solution chemical mixture.
Jet-grouting is used to create a solid barrier, underpin foundations or stabilize ground for trenchless construction.
Almost immediately after the flyover’s full opening on Sept. 5, motorists complained of a rough ride due to the uneven or “wavy” decking, where portions of it appeared to have slumped.
The flyover was subsequent closed on Sept. 18. DPWH central office engineers investigated and discovered vertical displacement at piers 4, 5, and 6.
The four-lane Ungka flyover is 453.7 lineal meters long, including the approaches. Its construction started last January 2020.
It is seen to reduce travel time to the Iloilo Airport in Cabatuan, Iloilo to some 20 minutes only (from Iloilo City) from the current 40 to 45 minutes./PN
