DPWH-6 eyes full use of Ungka flyover in August

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

The Department of Public Works and Highways-Western Visayas (DPWH-6) has announced that the defective P680-million Ungka flyover in Pavia, Iloilo, may be opened at full capacity by the end of August this year.

“Our self-imposed deadline to complete the two phases of rectification works and open the flyover to full capacity is August 31, 2024,” DPWH-6 director Sanny Boy Oropel told the Daily Guardian.

However, Oropel admitted that meeting this deadline has proven more challenging than anticipated due to various factors, including the classification of the soil beneath the flyover, which exhibits a high plasticity index.

Considering the high plasticity index of the soil, Oropel noted that they need to constantly evaluate the potential settlement and deformation of the ground when executing their repair works to ensure the stability and integrity of the structure.

“One [challenge] is the utilities underneath the road. Our rectification starts from ground zero until 54 meters. Our methodology is, from 0 to 6 meters we will have a bore hole and we will jet grout,” he said.

The jet grouting procedure will be repeated every six meters after a borehole, according to Oropel.

He emphasized that they have to follow certain methodologies to ensure the integrity of the superstructure once it fully opened again to the public,

“We do not want to shortcut the methodology that is why we are waiting for the proper time. This is what delays our rectification works,” he stressed.

The 453.7-meter flyover was fully opened to commuters on September 5, 2022, but was closed just two weeks later due to concerns raised by motorists about the “wavy feel” in using it and the confirmed vertical displacement in the structure.

On September 22 last year, the interior lane of the four-lane flyover was reopened to light vehicles with its operations only allowed during rush hours.

This year, the DPWH-6 has started the rectifications for the flyover with phase 1 of the repairs carried out by the Monolithic Construction & Concrete Products, Inc., an engineering firm based in Davao City.

Initial phase of the rectification involves bracing to stabilize the main girders and jet grouting with four boreholes at 54 meters of length per bore hole for the 8 piers of the flyover.

The DPWH has so far finished its jet grouting works in four piers, making it reach 28 percent of the rectification for phase 1.

The bidding for the P200-million contract for the second phase of repairs is scheduled this week.

Phase 2 of the repairs will focus on rectifying the settlement or displacement at piers 4, 5, and 6, which would require demolishing the spans that the three piers support.

But this may change according to Oropel depending on the ongoing monitoring studies in the initial phase of the rectification.