Controversial Iloilo flyover reopens

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

ILOILO CITY — A flyover that connects Barangay Ungka in Iloilo City and Pavia town, Iloilo was reopened on Monday, Dec. 23.

“We will not be closing the flyover anymore. It’s going to be open 24/7,” said assistant regional director Jose Al Fruto of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in an interview.

He said the DPWH was grateful to the public for understanding the need to close the flyover for several months to make it structurally sound.

The P680-million infrastructure project, which was intended to ease traffic congestion and cut travel time to the Iloilo International Airport in Cabatuan town, has faced mounting complaints from local officials and the public.

In June 2022, the 453.7-meter flyover was opened to the public but was closed in September of the same year after public complaints over the “wavy feel” while driving over it as well as reports and images of flooding at the top of the flyover during rainy days.

The DPWH has spent additional expenses for the flyover, including P13.48 million in 2023 for a third-party consultant to investigate the concerns.

For the actual rectification works, which began this year, they allocated P95.95 million for Phase 1, which was awarded to Davao City-based Monolithic Construction and Concrete Products Inc., and P192.25 million for Phase 2, which was awarded to the flyover’s original development contractor, International Builders Corporation.

READ: Controversial Iloilo flyover to get temporary two-way traffic