Buhang Flyover closed for two-month repairs

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

Motorists passing through Jaro are expected to face heavy traffic congestion as the Buhang Flyover undergoes a two-month closure for structural repairs and assessment.

The Iloilo City government’s Traffic and Transportation Management Office announced that the flyover will be closed from Feb. 1 to March 25, 2026, to allow a scheduled structural evaluation and repair works.

The repair works on the PHP 315 million flyover follow an order from Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon after reports of visible cracks and falling debris on parts of the structure.

Dizon directed the project contractor, F. Gurrea Construction Inc., to immediately address the defects to ensure public safety.

The Department of Public Works and Highways said the cost of the repairs will be fully shouldered by the contractor.

Dizon also ordered a comprehensive assessment of the entire flyover to determine its structural integrity and prevent similar issues in the future.

Cracks on the flyover were reported as early as last year, but major repairs were pursued only after Dizon conducted an onsite inspection in January.

The flyover is limited to vehicles with a maximum of three axles and a vertical clearance of 4.88 meters.

TTMO head Uldarico Garbanzos said the contractor has been instructed to install all necessary public safety equipment and traffic signages in the affected area.

Garbanzos clarified that while the closure officially began Feb. 1, full closure of the flyover will take effect Feb. 3.

“The area will now be a traffic choke area and should be managed,” he said.

Garbanzos added that TTMO will increase the number of traffic enforcers in the area, with personnel deployment expected to double once full closure is implemented.

“We have personnel that have been deployed already in the area, but we see that we need to add more because traffic will shift,” he said.

“Instead of vehicles passing above, traffic flow will now be concentrated below,” he added.

The Buhang Flyover was designed to ease traffic congestion along Circumferential Road-1 at the Iloilo–Capiz Road intersection.

Construction of the flyover began in 2019, and it was opened to the public in May 2023.