ILOILO City – The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Western Visayas has confirmed that no additional road widening or right-of-way adjustments will be made along the Ungka Flyover in Barangay Ungka II, Pavia, Iloilo.
In an interview with Panay News, Regional Director Sanny Boy Oropel clarified that the existing four-lane configuration under the flyover is already sufficient for current traffic demands.
“We don’t foresee the need to widen the road further as the four lanes already accommodate traffic well, both beneath and above the flyover. Our focus will be on asphalt overlay and minor works,” said Oropel.
Oropel also outlined a timeline for completing remaining minor works on the flyover, which are expected to be finished by March 15. These include the installation of railings, metal cladding, and other structural enhancements.
As part of this improvement, the DPWH has requested a P10-million allocation for asphalt overlay aimed at improving the road conditions beneath the flyover.
Since the flyover’s full opening on December 23, 2022, significant traffic flow improvements have been noted.
“We monitored traffic immediately after the reopening and found that congestion has greatly decreased, particularly at the intersection,” Oropel reported, emphasizing that the four-lane design has been effective in easing traffic.
The Ungka flyover, which spans 453.7 meters, was initially constructed in early 2020 and opened in September 2022. However, it was closed two weeks later due to subsidence issues.
The government has invested nearly P1 billion to rectify the situation, including a P15 million third-party geotechnical investigation to address the cause of vertical displacement.
Two phases of rectification have been funded, with Phase 1 totaling P95 million and Phase 2, which involves jet grouting and geofoam installation, pegged at P200 million./PN
