ILOILO City – The public is being alerted in advance about possible traffic congestion in Barangay Aganan, Pavia, Iloilo beginning July 6.
Construction of the P560-million four-lane Aganan flyover starts on Monday, according to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Region 6.
“Nakabutang na kami board-up didto,” said Engineer Mavi Gustilo, project engineer.
The contractor is International Builders Corp., the same construction company currently working on the P480-million 453.70-meter flyover in Barangay Ungka 2, also in Pavia.
The construction period is 24 months.
The Aganan flyover would be 436.90 meters long including the protection approaches and right of way.
Construction was originally scheduled to start in January this year, according to Gustilo, but several concerns were addressed first such as clearing the electrical wires and poles of Iloilo Electric Cooperative.
Then the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic came in, lamented Gustilo, further delaying the March start of construction.
Two lanes on each side of the six-lane national highway in Barangay Aganan would be closed.
One lane on each side of the highway would remain open to traffic.
DPWH-6 already coordinated with the local government of Pavia for the management of traffic in the area, said Gustilo.
At least 10 traffic enforcers would be directing the flow of vehicles.
“Also, we have identified alternative routes,” said Gustilo.
Motorists from the Iloilo Airport bound for Mandurriao and Molo (Iloilo City) or Oton, Iloilo may take the Bangga Dama, Santa Barbara-Bangga San Jose, San Miguel-Aleosan Road.
Motorists from Jaro, Iloilo City bound for Santa Barbara town may take the road traversing Barangay Quintin Salas, Jaro-Tacas, Jaro-Barangay Pagsangaan, Pavia; Tigum, Pavia-Barangay Cabugao, Santa Barbara-Barangay Agutayan, Santa Barbara-Taft Street, Santa Barbara- Rizal Street, Santa Barbara.
Motorists from Bangga Singko, Pavia and Barangay Cabugao Sur, Pavia (Carlitos) bound for Mandurriao, Molo or Oton, may take the Bangga Singko, Pavia-Barangay Pandac, Pavia-Aleosan Road.
Motorists from Barangay Cabugao Sur, Pavia (Carlitos) bound for Jaro/Leganes, Iloilo may pass through Evangelista Street, Pavia-Anilao-Pagsangaan Road-Barangay Tacas, Jaro.
“Ang DPWH nagapangayo gid pasensya. Ini nga project para man sa aton,” said Gustilo.
DPWH is erecting a total of four flyovers to ease traffic congestion in Iloilo City and immediate environs.
Aside from the Aganan and Ungka 2 flyovers, has also started work on the Buhang flyover in Barangay Buhang, Jaro, Iloilo City along Iloilo Circumferential Road crossing Iloilo-Capiz Road (new route). The other is the Jiba-aon flyover along the Iloilo Circumferential Road crossing Mandurriao-San Miguel Road in Mandurriao district of Iloilo City.
Ilonggo senator Franklin Drilon lobbied for these flyovers.
“We have to move quickly to solve this traffic congestion which irks drivers, commuters and tourists. We must prevent being compared to Metro Manila and Cebu City in terms of the gravity of traffic. It will not be good for the image of the city that we have worked hard on for several years,” said Drilon./PN
