ILOILO City – The P680-million flyover in Barangay Ungka II, Pavia, Iloilo is showing no more displacement, insisted the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Region 6.
A series of “dynamic load tests” were recently conducted to evaluate the effects of jet grouting introduced to three defective piers of the flyover. Dump trucks with loads of 20 tons were made to traverse the structure.
“Sa bulig sang Maka-aku, wala gid may nag-settle even one millimeter. We are monitoring the flyover every day. The defects nga nakita sang una wala magdaku,” DPWH-6 officer-in-charge regional director Engineer Sanny Boy Oropel told Panay News.
The four-lane Ungka flyover is 453.7 lineal meters long on bored pile foundation, including the approaches. It was fully opened to traffic on Sept. 5, 2022. But DPWH-6 shut it down after just two weeks, citing vertical displacement.
To date, the flyover remains closed to traffic, spawning traffic congestion in Barangay Ungka II, Pavia and the adjacent Barangay Ungka, Jaro, Iloilo City.
The first load test was conducted on Aug. 20. Loaded trucks entered both ends of the flyover and met on piers 4, 5, and 6 – the problematic piers – with a speed of 40 kilometers per hour.
“Sang first day, gin-utilize naton ang 20-ton loaded trucks, anum ka mga dump trucks. We did it simultaneously on both ends for six cycles. Anum ka balik-balik nga sugata tapos ma-meet sa mid span sang bridge. After that, gin-monitor naton ang vertical displacement kag ang iya horizontal displacement,” Oropel said.
On the second load test day, 12 cycles were performed.
“Wala pa matapos ang dynamic test. This s a series of tests to determine how effective jet grouting is,” the OIC regional director clarified.
The load test would last a week or until DPWH-6 consistently recorded zero settlement.
“‘Kon ano ang recommendation sang third party consultant on what structural interventions ang himuon naton sa Ungka flyover, sundon gihapon namon kay ang jet grouting is not a scientific way para ma-arrest ang settlement. Gina-check ta lang kon effective ang jet grouting,” he said.
Oropel also said they obtained clearance from the third-party consulting firm before conducting dynamic load tests, which were held at night to avoid traffic congestion.
Why conduct a dynamic load test now?
Oropel clarified that a load test was done during the time of then DPWH-6 regional director Engineer Nerie Bueno, but the jet grouting of all the flyover’s piers have not yet been completed.
The jet grout’s curing time only ended when he assumed office, Oropel added.
Oropel clarified that despite conducting dynamic load tests, rectifications suggested by Abinales Associates Engineers + Consultants will still be applied to the Ungka flyover.
The recommendations of the third-party consulting firm are with the DPWH-Bureau of Design (BOD), still being evaluated./PN
