DPWH repairs potholes on Jalandoni Bridge, Ungka Flyover

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

The Department of Public Works and Highways has begun repair work on Jalandoni Bridge in Iloilo City and a road section under the Ungka Flyover following safety concerns raised by city officials and motorists.

On Friday, Feb. 13, DPWH applied an asphalt overlay on Jalandoni Bridge as an initial response to address potholes and surface damage, pending the results of a full structural assessment.

On Thursday, Iloilo City Mayor Raisa Treña-Chu said she formally sought urgent assistance from DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon for the inspection, structural evaluation and rehabilitation of the bridge, which connects Barangay Nabitasan in La Paz to the city proper.

Treña-Chu said the bridge, completed in the early 2000s, has not undergone major retrofitting or structural upgrades.

She also said the bridge was not formally turned over to the Iloilo City government despite being classified as a local road.

Motorists have reported concrete spalling, cracks, scaling and potholes on the structure, raising public safety concerns.

Treña-Chu said she initially wrote DPWH Region 6 on Feb. 10 before elevating the matter to the DPWH central office for immediate action.

She urged DPWH to complete the asphalt overlay as soon as possible.

Treña-Chu said the city’s Traffic and Transport Management Office will help manage traffic flow during repairs to minimize disruption.

Meanwhile, DPWH also carried out repair work at the intersection of Iloilo Circumferential Road 1 under the Ungka Flyover.

DPWH Region 6 scraped the deteriorated asphalt overlay and patched potholes Wednesday night to improve road safety.

Motorists earlier complained about numerous potholes at the intersection beneath the flyover, saying vehicles jolt when passing through the area.