P43-M road improvement works completed in central Iloilo

Traveling to the towns of Pototan and Mina in Iloilo are now faster and easier with the completion the P43.7-million worth of two road improvement projects along Pototan-Mina-Janiuay Road undertaken by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Iloilo 2nd District Engineering Office.

District Engineer Sanny Boy Oropel said the road widening at Brgy. Lumbo, Pototan and the reconstruction at Tumcon and Guinacas in the same town and Cabalabaguan in Mina town were completed in December 2019.

The P26-million road widening (from two lanes to four lanes) involved the construction of additional 2-lane, 6.7-meter wide, 0.3-meter thick Portland Concrete Cement Pavement (PCCP) with the length of 1.015 kilometers, including reinforced lined canal, cross drainage with catch basin and headwall, grouted riprap and stone masonry as slope protection, metal guardrails with end piece, and reflectorized pavement markings.

“This widened road will provide easy access to basic services from Iloilo City to central and northern Iloilo, and reduce travel time from Pototan to Iloilo City of hundreds of motorists and commuters from 45 minutes to 30 minutes, hence, delivery of goods, services and commodities would be faster by at least 15 minutes. This will eventually improve the living condition and diminish the transport cost of the people in the said towns,” Oropel said.

“The better and wider road will also open opportunities for socio-economic development in these towns as well as may reduce the percentage of road hazards,” he added.

Likewise, the road improvement at barangays Tumcon and Guinacas in Pototan and Cabalabaguan in Mina involved the reconstruction of the deteriorated concrete road with the length of 1.434 kilometers in the amount of P22.9 million, provision of guardrails with end piece, and reflectorized pavement markings.

“The reconstruction of this road section provides a convenient and safe travel to approximately 280 motorists and commuters who travel daily toward establishments, recreational areas, health centers and schools. This will also improve and facilitate the flow of goods from the province of Capiz to Iloilo City and vice versa,” he said. (DPWH-6/RPAIO)