Underpass now 87% complete

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By Odessa O. Leyson (The Freeman)

CEBU, Philippines — After a year and almost six months of construction, the P638-million underpass along N. Bacalso Avenue, Cebu City is now 87 percent complete.

During the site inspection yesterday, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)-7 Assistant Regional Director Engr. Mario Montejo said the project’s construction is on track since it is within the contract period.

He said WT Construction Inc. is now concreting the underground walls of the underpass after they have completed the boring of piles.

“As of now, 87 percent ang accomplishment. So, gamay nalang, substantially completed na. Then sa ilawom ang pavement and sige ta concrete ta sa wall, then phasing nalang,” Montejo said.

He said the contractor is also done with the installation of pumping stations of the underpass which are used to pump out water to the drainage system.

DPWH-7 Project Engineer Roy Dela Cruz said the contractor is now working on the walls, which are reinforced by conventional steel rods, steel mesh, or fibers.

The final work will be the putting up of concrete slab once the base part is finished.

“We expected by the end of March mahuman siya, however tungod sa mga rainy weather sa December 2018, naa pa’y typhoon, na-stalled siya gamay,” Dela Cruz said.

Montejo said the contractor has committed to finish the piling of works by the end of this month but due to the bad weather conditions, it was not able to comply.

But he emphasized that the contract period of WTCI is until May 2019 as they expected that the underpass project will be operational.

“On track pata, supposed to be the first commitment of the contractor is this month, but because of some delays, naa’y mga change orders, mausab-usab man gud ni tungod sa gagma’y kakulian. Na-target nato by May, end of May,” Montejo said.

Once the underpass will be open to vehicles, it will alleviate the traffic congestion in the south district.

Montejo said all southbound and northbound vehicles can utilize the underpass project. Those who would pass F. Llamas Street will have to access the side roads.

In August 2017, there is a monstrous traffic in the south district due to the construction of the underpass project.

At the comment section of The FREEMAN Facebook account, there are netizens who are doubtful that the underpass would really address the traffic.

Some of them slammed the authorities for causing traffic in the main thorough fares.

“Pagsure mo uy. Sige lang mo saad. Wala baya ninyo, tan-awa ang traffic diha kada adlaw. Purwesyo na kaayo mo sa mga taw,” Edgar Lacno commented.

At present, the traffic scheme in the south district is the southbound and northbound side roads are available to public utility jeepneys (PUJs) and private vehicles.

Identified diversion routes are also accessible to traffic such as Ganciang St., Caimito St., F. Llamas St., and others.

All buses, mini buses and delivery trucks will access the Cebu South Coastal Road (CSCR).

Horrendous traffic usually occurs during peak hours which are from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. based on the assessment of Cebu City Transportation Office.

Meanwhile, Montejo said that after the construction of the underpass, they will proceed with the road widening of both lanes.

The legal department of DPWH-7 is negotiating with the affected structures so that they can implement the road widening on June.

“Ongoing ang negotiations, mo-resort na kung dili sila modawat sa offer nato, market value ang offer. Og dili gyud, mo-resort ta to expropriation, adto ta sa korte mo-deposit,” Montejo said.

The road widening project worth P17 million will be funded by the national agency.

The widening measures 400 meters in length and six meters in width.