ILOILO City – Since its reopening on Friday, Sept. 22, the Ungka flyover has shown no signs of vertical displacement or movement, especially on piers 4, 5, and 6, where such movements were previously observed.
“As of our last monitoring session, our survey team detected no movement,” said Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Region 6 officer-in-charge, Engr. Sanny Boy Oropel.
The P680-million four-lane Ungka flyover has reopened its two inner lanes to light vehicles.
According to DPWH-6, this was deemed the most practical solution to ease traffic congestion in the Ungka area.
Oropel said the survey team, made up of DPWH-6 engineers, is executing a “quadruple run of surveys” on the entire structure to detect any shifts and ensure the accuracy of data collection.
“We’re not just monitoring once, but executing the survey in four runs. This means they are re-surveying the structure four times to double-check the accuracy of their data and detect any errors,” he said.
Oropel hopes these updates will reassure the public regarding the flyover’s safety. He emphasized that the decision to reopen was based on concrete data and thorough consultation with all DPWH-6 engineers.
“We have a robust monitoring system in place, ensuring that our data is both well-coordinated and well-researched,” Oropel said.
However, he also noted that if the DPWH-6 engineers and survey team identify any displacement, they will immediately shut down the flyover.
“Our sole objective, whether monitoring the structural integrity beneath the bridge or observing the traffic flow on top, is to ensure safety for all commuters,” added Oropel.
Since its reopening, traffic flow in the Ungka area, especially during peak hours, has noticeably improved.
“We at DPWH are pleased to contribute to a system that alleviates traffic congestion,” Oropel said.
The flyover will remain open from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. daily, until further notice.
In related news, Iloilo City’s Public Safety and Transportation Management Office, in conjunction with the Pavia Traffic Management Office, has adjusted the flyover’s gantry vertical height limit from 2.30 meters to three meters. On the day of its reopening, an ambulance that exceeded the set height limit hit the gantry./PN
