ILOILO City – The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is expecting the recommendations of the third-party consulting firm on the P680-million Ungka flyover by the end of this month.
The geotechnical investigation on the defective flyover in Barangay Ungka, Jaro district and Barangay Ungka II, Pavia, Iloilo started on March 3.
Engineer Jose Al Fruto, assistant regional director of DPWH, said although the engagement of the Manila-based Abinales Associates Engineers + Consultants with DPWH to do the geotechnical investigation is for three months, the latter committed to come up with recommendations by the end of this month.
“Even though three months ina ang engagement sang third-party consultant, damo ina nga scope… But if we have that recommendation already by the end of March, at least we can prepare and dira na kita maka-set sang definitive time because we will be doing already what needs to be done,” said Fruto.
Also part of the consulting firm’s job is to determine the applicable engineering solution.
After submitting the recommendation, the DPWH central office will assess how to apply the intervention.
Geotechnical investigation, according to trenchlesspedia.com, implies the use of different methods to determine the physical properties of soil and rock below the surface of the earth at a proposed installation site. It helps engineers make decisions regarding the type of tools that will be required to dig through the site in the most economical manner. It also assesses the potential environmental impact that a project may have on a particular area.
Geotechnical investigation is an essential step in any trenchless operation because knowledge of subsurface conditions is key to a successful project.
For the Ungka flyover, the geotechnical investigation will focus on determining the cause of the vertical displacement of settlement in piers 4, 5 and 6 and formulating the appropriate intervention.
Upgrading of access road continues
Fruto said they continue to upgrade the access road on both sides of the flyover.
“Nagadugang kita features like loading and unloading areas and sidewalks for pedestrians,” he said.
He also appealed to the public for more understanding.
“Sa part sang DPWH, we are not stopping at anything. We are doing everything nga tani mapa-hasten ang tanan nga activities. Pero bal-an man naton may mga factors that hinder or naga-compel sa aton sa pagsunod sang mga timeline nga ini. Kay isa lang man ang aton tuyo nga magamit naton liwat ining vital infrastructure,” Fruto added.
Ungka flyover was fully opened to traffic on Sept. 5, 2022 but was temporarily closed after just two weeks due to vertical displacement./PN
