DPWH-7: Tunnel 94 percent done

CEBU, Philippines — A month before the scheduled opening of the underpass on Natalio Bacalso Avenue, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) reported that the project is now 94 percent complete.

DPWH-7 project engineer Roy Dela Cruz said the remaining works undertaken by the contractor, WT Construction Inc., is just the concreting of the pavement. Dela Cruz said the contractor has already installed four submersible pumps to pump out water from the tunnel during rainy season.

According to Dela Cruz, the concreting of the pavement is expected to be completed within a week’s time.

“Naa nata sa 94%, substantially completed na gyud na kay naa naman atoang water pump, duha kabuok. Naa na ang generator set, mao na’y moserve as source of power if walay kuryente,” he said.

After the concreting of the pavement, the contractor needs another week for the curing period, a time to allow the concrete to achieve the desired properties for its intended use. After the said period, WTCI will allow the quality assurance unit (QAU) to check whether or not the project has defects.

“By June, human na siya. But we will not open that immediately kay atong ipa-check sa quality assurance unit namo, QAU checks for defects, naa’y minor corrections maybe before mo-open,” Dela Cruz said.

DPWH-7 said they would coordinate with the Cebu City Transportation Office (CCTO) for possible new traffic scheme in the area before the project’s formal opening for public use. Dela Cruz said the underpass is expected to alleviate the traffic situation in the south district.

“For sure mo-improve gyud na ang traffic diha kay dili naman tanan anha sa junction sa N. Bacalso and corner F. Llamas St.,” he said. (Traffic condition at the junction of N. Bacalso and F. Llamas Streets will sure improve)

In a separate interview, CCTO operations chief Francisco Ouano said all public utility jeepneys (PUJs) shall access northbound and southbound side roads. He will also consult Mayor Tomas Osmeña whether buses and minibuses would be allowed to use the underpass.

 “Ako pa i-ask si mayor if itugot ba nga ibalik ang mga buses ngadto og agi sa N. Bacalso but possible siya mahitabo kay maagian man gyud ang tunnel,” Ouano told The FREEMAN. — FPL (FREEMAN)