By Rjay Zuriaga Castor
The Department of Public Works and Highways-Western Visayas (DPWH-6) has announced that they will be conducting a test run at the Jibao-an flyover in Brgy. Jibao-an, Mandurriao, on December 11.
On Monday next week, the Jibao-an flyover will be open to vehicles weighing less than 27 tons from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
In its advisory, the DPWH-6 noted that bicycles, tricycles, and vehicles with more than three axles or vehicles with six or more wheels, such as trucks, tractors, or trailers, will not be allowed entry for the test run.
DPWH-6 officer-in-charge director Sanny Boy Oropel said the test run will be conducted to ensure that the structure is safe, functional, and ready for public use ahead of the flyover’s target opening on December 15.
“December 15 ang target ta nga opening amo na gani nga atun na siya i-dry run para at least ang mga salakyan maguidan ta,” Oropel told Daily Guardian.
[Our target for the opening is on December 15, and that is why we will have a dry run, so at least the vehicles can be guided.]
Oropel, however, clarified that the plan to open the flyover on December 15 does not mean it is 100 percent complete, citing that there are issues on right of way underneath the flyover’s structure.
“Actually ang atun nga pag opening sang traffic by December 15, it doesn’t mean nga 100 percent complete kay ang dalom indi natun matapos tapos tungod sang problema natun sa right of way,” he added.
[Actually, our plan to open the flyover by December 15 doesn’t mean it’s 100 percent complete because there is still a portion of where we have issues with the right of way.]
He noted that the opening is to ease the heavy traffic in the area, especially with the coming holiday season.
The Jibao-an flyover in Brgy. Jibao-an, Mandurriao, began construction in late 2020. The structure spans along the Iloilo Circumferential Road and involves the creation of a two-lane flyover, measuring 240 meters in length and featuring six 40-meter span prestressed concrete girders.
According to DPWH-6, the flyover was designed to improve connectivity to southern Iloilo and the adjacent province of Antique.
The structure also aims to alleviate traffic congestion in the nearby towns of Pavia and San Miguel, as well as the roads within the Mandurriao district.
Oropel has instructed the project engineers responsible for the flyovers in Iloilo to ensure that the implementation aligns with the approved designs and adheres to safety standards.
He has emphasized the importance of being hands-on throughout the implementation to prevent unnecessary complications.
“These flyover projects are an important part of urban infrastructure development. Thus, we should ensure that building these structures meets the approved standards and is safe for public use. They should be built and maintained in accordance with the approved design and safety standards,” Oropel stressed.
In September of this year, DPWH-6 opened the defective Ungka flyover in Pavia to light vehicles, a year after its closure to the public.
The 453.7-meter flyover was fully accessible to commuters on September 5, 2022.
However, it was closed just two weeks later due to concerns raised by motorists about a “wavy feel” when using it and the confirmed vertical displacement or sinking of the structure’s foundations.
