‘GOING STEADY’: Ungka II flyover shows no vertical displacement following removal of steel shoring

By Francis Allan L. Angelo

No vertical displacement was observed following the removal of steel shoring from the three piers of the Ungka II flyover in Pavia, Iloilo, according to the report submitted by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Region 6.

The report dated Feb. 7, 2023, was submitted by DPWH Assistant Regional Director Jose Al Fruto and prepared by Engr. Jose Grecia and Technical Support Staff Arnaldo Recodo II.

“Steel shoring on piers 4, 5 & 6 have already been removed and no vertical displacement was observed,” it stated.

The DPWH earlier said it removed the said steel shoring to pave the way for the traffic load test on all 16 piers to determine the flyover’s behavior when fully loaded.

The steel frames were installed on piers 4, 5 and 6 to support the flyover’s main structure due to the reported vertical displacement.

The DPWH also completed the application of grout (jet grouting) on piers 4, 5 and 6 while soil penetration test on all 16 piers at 50-meter depth is expected to be completed on Thursday (Feb. 9).

The completion of the two-lane road widening on both sides is targeted to be finished on Feb. 14, 2023 while the installation of storm drain and repair of defective road surface remain in progress.

The latest update came weeks after Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan personally inspected the structure together with other concerned agencies.

Following the inspection, Bonoan said the contractor followed the DPWH’s design down to the last detail.

“Palagay ko iyong yung design naman po ay nasunod niya (contractor),” Bonoan said, adding the agency will open the flyover to motorists only after all the safety issues are properly addressed.

“Hindi po namin pabubuksan hangga’t hindi po namin nasisigurado na safe po iyong nadadaanan ninyo,” he said.

Meanwhile, Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas, as chairperson of the Infrastructure Committee of the Regional Development Committee Region 6, has called for a special meeting where the DPWH is expected to present its report on the Ungka flyover.

Treñas hopes the DPWH would be able to provide solutions to the issues hounding the Ungka II flyover to alleviate the burden of Ilonggo commuters as soon as possible.