ILOILO City – By the time the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) fully reopens the Ungka flyover to traffic, the cost of this defective infrastructure will have ballooned to P975 million — P295 million higher than the original P680 million, due to repairs.
The four-lane, 453.7 lineal meters long Ungka flyover was constructed beginning January 2020 and opened to traffic on September 2022. But this was closed two weeks after due to vertical displacement (portions of it were sinking).
Early this year, DPWH Region 6 announced it targeted to reopen the flyover this August after the repairs. But it later acknowledged it won’t be able to meet its self-imposed deadline, and reset the target date of completion to November.
The Ungka flyover stretches from Barangay Ungka, Jaro, Iloilo City to Barangay Ungka 2, Pavia, Iloilo. Straddling the major intersection of the Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr. Avenue and President Corazon Aquino Avenue in Barangay Ungka 2, it is meant to ease traffic congestion in this crucial point that leads in and out of Iloilo City.
Before the repairs started, DPWH spent P13 million for a third-party consulting firm last year to conducted a geotechnical investigation on the flyover’s vertical displacement.
According to Regional Director Sanny Boy Oropel, the first phase of rectification work – with a budget of P95 million – is expected to conclude by July 30. Following this is the bidding for the second phase of repairs.
“The jet grouting for Phase 1 should be completed by the end of July. We aim to initiate Phase 2 activities by the first or second week of August,” said Oropel.
The second phase, which involves rectifications at piers 4, 5, and 6, is estimated to require two months to complete. It has a budget of P200 million.
Engr. Adam Abinales, managing partner of Abinales Associates Engineers + Consultants, recommended adding additional bored piles.
The installation of these piles necessitates the removal and potential replacement of the existing prestressed concrete girders due to the large equipment needed for drilling.
Abinales has advised DPWH-6 to remove and replace the superstructure at the specified piers to accommodate the installation of the new piles, which will be bored to a depth of at least 40 meters.
The current bored piles at pier 4 reach 28 meters, at pier 5 are 26 meters, and at pier 6 are also 26 meters deep.
Oropel again appealed for public understanding for the delays in completing the first phase of rectification, which as of June 30, 2024, was 65 percent complete.
“The rectification techniques we are applying are not simple,” he explained.
He further detailed that the contractor, Monolithic Construction & Concrete Products, Inc., conducts drilling and jet grouting every six meters from the base up to 52 meters, followed by a curing period to assess the effectiveness of the grouting.
Complications have arisen due to underground utilities, such as water and telephone lines, which have slowed the grouting process.
The contractor also performs seismic tests to ensure the grouting effectively stabilizes the soil beneath.
Currently, the two inner lanes of the flyover are open to traffic from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. and from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. daily./PN
