ILOILO City – Rectification of the defective P680-million Ungka flyover in Barangay Ungka II, Pavia, Iloilo has been moved to the first week of January next year, said the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Region 6.
According to DPWH 6 officer-in-charge, Engr. Sanny Boy Oropel, the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) is being told to expedite awarding the winning bidder before the year ends.
“Hopefully, the award will be given to the winning contractor or the lowest calculated and responsible bidder. Hopefully, we can issue na sang aton award. And, after New Year, maka-issue na kita sang contract for the notice to proceed for the winning bidder nga maka-start na sang aton rectification works for the first tranche,” said Oropel.
The first tranche of the rectification budget is P100 million. It would cover the jet grouting of the flyover’s 13 piers.
Jet grouting will be conducted first on the first and last piers of the flyover so as not to cause additional traffic.
“Actually, in the first week of January, maka-start na ang contractor, we are rushing all the activities for the completion of the rectification, and hopefully, we are expecting to complete all the rectification activities in the Ungka flyover. We will aim for a full opening by August 2024. Gina-rush naton ang tanan nga activities para at least makabulig man reduce sang traffic,” Oropel added.
He explained that heavy equipment would be in the area once the jet grouting started. Thus, the DPWH-6 and the contractor will observe whether or not it will affect traffic flow.
If it is observed that the rectification works do not hinder the flow of traffic, DPWH-6 will maximize the opening of the road.
Otherwise, the department said it would find ways to ease the traffic.
Oropel explained that they could not open the flyover 24/7 because there must be time to cure the jet grouting, and there should be no movement on the piers to give way to the shoring underneath.
While the jet grouting is underway in January, DPWH-6 eyes to begin bidding for the second phase of repair.
“Sa second phase approved na ang General Appropriation Acts (GAA), and ang procurement activity is now ongoing kag ang aton preparation sa detailed engineering design. So, hopefully, we can bid out at the end of January,” Oropel said.
A second tranche of the budget, amounting to P200 million from the GAA, is expected to follow. This fund will be used for more extensive repairs, including the replacement of spans between specific piers and deepening the bored piles of certain piers from 28 meters to 47 meters.
The full closure of the flyover is planned post-Dinagyang Festival, with the subsequent bidding process for these works projected to start around March or April.
Oropel said the bidding is open to all qualified contractors, including the original contractor of the flyover, 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.
Currently, the inner lanes of the Ungka flyover are operational during specific hours from Monday to Saturday.
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
