ILOILO City – The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Region 6 is set to start the bidding process for the Phase 2 rectification of the defective P680-million Ungka Flyover in Barangay Ungka II, Pavia, Iloilo on September 24.
The rectification, focusing on the vertical displacement (sinking) issues at piers 4, 5, and 6, has been allocated a budget of P200 million.
The Ungka flyover stretches from Barangay Ungka, Jaro, Iloilo City to Barangay Ungka II, Pavia. Straddling the major intersection of the Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr. Avenue and President Corazon Aquino Avenue in Barangay Ungka II, it is meant to ease traffic congestion in this crucial point that leads in and out of Iloilo City.
DPWH-6 director Engineer Sanny Boy Oropel said the bidding is open to all qualified contractors, encouraging them to submit their proposals.
“Following this, we hope to award the project and issue the Notice to Proceed to the winning contractor, initiating the start of Phase 2,” Oropel told Panay News.
The four-lane, 453.7 lineal meters long Ungka flyover was constructed beginning January 2020 and opened to traffic on the first week of September 2022. But this was closed two weeks after due to vertical displacement.
Oropel said a press conference will be called to brief the media on the rectification process, the timeline for completion, and the projected full capacity reopening of the flyover.
Although the target is to open the flyover fully by Christmas Day, December 25, 2024 if delays occur, it is expected to be operational before the Dinagyang Festival in 2025.
Regarding the bidding and subsequent project phases, Oropel added, “Once a qualified bidder is selected, we will immediately award the contract so that rectification work can begin by October 2024.”
He also mentioned that there are no anticipated problems in transitioning from the completion of Phase 1 rectification to the commencement of Phase 2.
Currently, Phase 1 rectification work, involving jet grouting at 13 piers, is 87 percent complete, handled by Monolithic Construction & Concrete Products, Inc. of Davao City.
Completion of Phase 1 is expected within the next two to three weeks.
Oropel confirmed that there would be no road closures during the construction of Phase 2.
The chosen scheme for the critical piers — Scheme 1 or Provide Additional Bored Piles — was recommended by Adam Abinales, managing partner of Abinales Associates Engineers + Consultants, following a geotechnical investigation.
This investigation revealed that the soil at piers 4, 5, and 6 is softer than expected, and that these piers were unable to reach the hard strata or bedrock even at depths of up to 55 meters.
“The investigation shows the ground is quite soft. Despite drilling up to 55 meters, we have not yet reached the hard strata,” said Abinales.
He recommended the removal and replacement of the existing superstructures on these piers to accommodate the driving of additional bored piles necessary for stabilization.
Currently, the depths of the existing bored piles are 28 meters at pier 4, 26 meters at pier 5, and 26 meters at pier 6, with recommendations to extend these to 40 meters or more to ensure stability.
By the time DPWH-6 fully reopens the Ungka flyover to traffic, the cost of this infrastructure will have ballooned to P975 million — P295 million higher than its original cost./PN
