ILOILO City – The rectification of the defective P680-million Ungka flyover in Barangay Ungka II, Pavia, Iloilo commenced on Jan. 15 as announced by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Region 6.
Yet three weeks on, people are wondering why there seems to be no visible civil works or activity in the area.
The winning contractor is Monolithic Construction & Concrete Products, Inc.
According to Engr. Sanny Boy Oropel, officer-in-charge director of DPWH-6, the Davao-based contractor has been given 120 working days and its first task isto prepare the I-beam, which will serve as vertical support for the structure once jet grouting begins.
“Ang shoring kon sa ordinary layman’s view amo na ang gintukod ta sa aton bridge sa babaw. Tukuron ta anay kay kon mag-jet grout kita ma-disturb ang aton nga piers so kinahanglan nga may support sa dalom,” Oropel told Panay News.
Oropel added that DPWH-6 and the contractor decided for the I-beams to be built at the latter’s warehouse so as not to impede the traffic flow beneath the Ungka flyover.
“Makita ninyo daw kahinay ukon wala activity tungod ang aton welding activity ara sa sagwa. Indi ta luyag nga maka-damage kita sang commuters nga ara sa idalom,” he said.
The only visible work seen in the area since last week was the laying out of galvanized iron sheets around piers 7, 8 and 9.
“Ang makita ninyo ang aton nga protective covering, however starting this week napasulod na da naton ang shoring nga mga I-beams kay na-welding na sa site sang contractor… Ang jet grouting will start after sang aton nga shoring activity,” explained Oropel.
As of Tuesday morning, Feb. 6, I-beams were already brought in the area and the shoring activity in piers 7, 8 and 9 will begin anytime from now.
With this, the construction site would be busy and motorists should anticipate traffic congestion.
The inner lanes of the Ungka flyover will continue to be operational during specific hours from Monday to Saturday, or from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. and from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m.
“The same ang aton operation (of the flyover), wala sang may ginliwat. So, definitely we will continue the window hours given by DPWH while we are applying the jet grouting activity,” Oropel added.
He also said that the contractor has begun digging up the soil for jet grouting so as not to damage the pipes of Metro Iloilo Water District (MIWD) and cable wires of the telecommunication companies.
DPWH-6 earlier confirmed that the P100-million contract has been awarded to Monolithic Construction & Concrete Products, Inc.
The firm won with its P95,949,996.04 bid against seven others, including the flyover’s contractor, International Builders Corporation (IBC).
Engr. Adam Abinales of Abinales Associates Engineers + Consultants has previously recommended additional bored piles as a solution for the settlement issues of some piers.
This approach will enhance the overall pile capacity but may require the removal and replacement of existing prestressed concrete girders.
For other piers, underpinning with intensive jet grouting is advised, reaching depths of up to 100 meters.
DPWH-6 aims to complete the rectification by July 2024 and fully reopen the flyover by the first week of August 2024, weather permitting./PN
