ILOILO City – The Buhang flyover along Iloilo Circumferential Road crossing the Iloilo-Capiz Road (new route) in Jaro district will open in March.
The remaining work left for project contractor F. Gurrea Construction Inc. include the flyover’s approach fronting coastal road in Barangay Balabago, Jaro and some painting.
“Siguro this February matapos na nila tanan obra, especially ang approach going to the coastal area. Although concrete ina may ara na sia curing period nga at least 14 days. Daw Marso gid ‘guro ang safe timeline kay makita man naton ang obra,” said Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Region 6 assistant director Jose Al Fruto in an interview with Panay News yesterday morning.
Buhang flyover has two lanes, a length of 340 linear meters and width of 10.34 meters. It was implemented by the Iloilo City District Engineering Office (ICDEO) under DPWH-6.
According to Fruto, the DPWH central office budgeted more than P300 million for the flyover’s completion.
Construction began in late 2019 and is supposed to be completed by the end of 2022. However, due to several weather disturbances that hit the region throughout the period, the contractor had difficulty sourcing quarry materials.
Once it is open to the public, Fruto said, the ICDEO may implement regulations on the types of vehicles allowed and prohibited to use the flyover, although it was designed for all types.
“Gin-design ina tani sa all types of vehicles, pero ang ginalikawan naton amo ang loaded, especially articulated trucks. So may mga regulation gid kita nga himuon sina just to make sure nga allowable loads lang ang naga-agi sa babaw,” said Fruto.
He added that the contractor will also try to have the road beneath the flyover cemented or at least improved.
With the flyover soon passable, motorists will no longer experience heavy traffic along the Barangay Buhang, Jaro area, according to Fruto. Private vehicles can use the flyover if they are going to Pavia or Barangay Balabago direction, he added.
“Kon mag-shorten ang travel time, so magadugang ang productivity naton, we become more efficient,” he said.
‘Buhang flyover safe’
Meanwhile, F. Gurrea Construction Inc. project engineer Rey Dela Cruz assured that the Buhang flyover is safe.
He added that they strictly followed the design made by the DPWH, and they are confident that whatever is happening to the P680-million Ungka flyover in Barangay Ungka II, Pavia, will not be the case for the Buhang flyover.
“May assurance ‘ni kay ginsunod ang tanan nga procedures and instructions sang proponent (DPWH). So ma-assure ko nga safe sia,” said Dela Cruz in an interview with Panay News.
Dela Cruz supervises the construction site daily to ensure their work is done./PN
