Excavation for underpass project set

CEBU, Philippines - Commuters and motorists should brace for heavy traffic in Cebu City's south district in the next few weeks as construction of an underpass will finally start Tuesday, August 1.

The P638-million project is now two months delayed after the Department of Public Works and Highways-7 deferred its implementation due to numerous complaints on the need for more consultation and better preparation.

DPWH-7 project engineer Roy Dela Cruz said they have modified the construction plan so they could begin the underpass project on N. Bacalso Avenue and F. Llamas Street in Cebu City.

He said they will start excavating the portion of the road belonging to the phase II of the project, instead of the first phase because of some pipelines that might be affected by the road works.

“We decided nga mo-start sa pikas lane which is the phase II of the project to give time sa Metropolitan Cebu Water District to realign or look for ways para ma-address na nga concern,” he said, adding that they are constantly communicating with MCWD.

DPWH earlier hit one of the pipelines during the excavation of road on N. Bacalso Avenue for the supposed new drainage system.

The first phase of the project will involve boring and piling works at the portion of the project site on the southbound lane of N. Bacalso Avenue in front of a fastfood restaurant.

The phase 2, on the other hand, will cover the northbound lane of N. Bacalso Avenue in front of a shopping center.

Each of the project’s phases will take three to four months. 

DPWH is expected to finish the patching and asphalting of the diversion roads in Tagunol and Ganciang Streets, as well as installing traffic rerouting signages.

“Most of the concerns na-address nato, gi-work nato. Naa ko’y engineer nga gibilin didto (Cebu City Transportation Office) aron ma-identify unsa pa’y kulang namo nga requirements para by Tuesday maka-start na gyud ta,” Dela Cruz said.

He said the construction of the underpass project would take at least 18 months.

The underpass will be 700 meters long and will have a two-way, two-lane depressed structure at the intersection of N. Bacalso Avenue and F. Llamas Street.

To build the underpass, the DPWH needs to widen the existing road in the area by 20 to 30 meters.

Despite the delay, Dela Cruz is optimistic to meet the target.

 “We have to be confident (to start and finish the project on time) because we have no choice, naa ta’y target i-meet. Kun dili nato ma-meet, patay ta,” he said.

As to the traffic disturbance, Dela Cruz advised the public to leave their homes early to avoid being stuck in traffic jams.

He also reminded motorists to stay calm and be patient while driving.

In a separate interview, Cebu City Transportation Office (CCTO) operations chief Francisco Ouano, however, said they have not given DPWH yet the go signal to start the project.

He said his office has yet to assess the impact of the project on the flow of traffic in the southern corridor.

 “So ang atoang istudyuhan, wa man ta ni-okay pa sa ila, wala pa gyud. Diri man sila ganiha (yesterday) dili baya ingon nga diha-diha dayon mosugot ta, dili in-ana kasayon,” he said.

Dela Cruz clarified that they are not obstructing the project, but they are only ensuring that it would not cripple the southern traffic flow.

 “Sila (DPWH) they are talking sa ilahang area, kita sa entire city. Mismo kami gusto madali para naa’ kalamboan ang siyudad pero kailangan studyhan ang ilahang gusto kay kami man gud i-blame sa mga taw,” Ouano said. (FREEMAN)