P480-M Ungka II Flyover starts construction Monday

By Emme Rose Santiagudo

The P480-million Ungka II Flyover – the first of the four flyovers to be established in the Metro Iloilo Guimaras Economic and Development Council (MIGEDC) area – will begin construction on Jan 13, 2020.

According to Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) 6 Assistant Director Al Fruto, heavy equipment will be deployed to Ungka II in Pavia, Iloilo to jumpstart the construction.

“For Ungka, we will be mobilizing already on Monday our heavy equipment. The contractors will put up barricades, signages, and solar blinkers in the area,” he said in a press conference on Friday.

The 453.70-meter Ungka II flyover will be constructed at the junction of Sen. Benigno S. Aquino Jr. Avenue and Iloilo Circumferential Road at Brgy. Ungka II, Pavia, Iloilo.

With the start of the construction on Monday, Fruto said four of the six-lane national highway at the construction area will be closed. Hence, traffic congestion is expected in the construction area.

“We will be enclosing around 50 meters from Petron in Ungka II in Pavia, Iloilo. Progressive ang paglakat sa enclosure. We will be enclosing two lanes in both directions so all in all, four lanes,” he said.

Public Safety Transportation and Management Office (PSTMO) head Jeck Conlu said the traffic lights particularly in Brgy. Sambag in Jaro district and in the intersection of Ungka will temporarily be turned off and will be managed by traffic aides.

To mitigate traffic congestion, DPWH advised private vehicles from the Iloilo International Airport in Cabatuan, Iloilo and central towns of Iloilo going to Jaro and City Proper district to use the Iloilo-Sta. Barbara road.

Private vehicles from the airport and central towns of Iloilo that will travel to Mandurriao and Molo districts are advised to use the Oton, San Miguel, and Sta. Barbara road.

Aside from the Ungka II Flyover, Fruto said the construction of the P560-million Aganan Flyover is expected to commence in late of February or early March this year.

The 436.90-meter flyover will be constructed at the junction of Sen. Benigno S. Aquino Jr. Avenue and Felix Gorriceta Jr. Avenue in Brgy. Aganan, Pavia, Iloilo.

Two more additional flyovers – the Hibao-an and Buhang Flyovers – will be constructed within this year.

“We target to finish the construction of the four flyovers by 2021,” Fruto said.

He emphasized that construction of the four flyovers will not only ease the traffic congestion but will also jive with the influx of development both in the city and province of Iloilo.

“We are trying to be at par or mas maunahan ang development diri sa Iloilo. Maayo gani na timely and nahingagaw gid naton ang mga proyekto nga ini sa pagsulod sang influx of progress and growth diri sa Iloilo,” he said.