Bacolod opens its first flyover

Bacolod City — This city now has a flyover.

The Lacson-Circumferential flyover in barangay Bata, which was inagurated on Friday, is expected to ease traffic.

“Finally the flyover project is done,” said Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia during the ceremony that officially opened the flyover to traffic.

He said the flyover symbolizes progress and development as it serves as concrete evidence that the city is moving forward.

The flyover, the only one on Negros Island, was built by the Department of Public Works and Highways-President’s Bridge Program Office (PBPO).

The steel flyover cost P365 million and consists of five spans, four piers on concrete piles with a total length of 195 meters.

Leonardia recalled that on Sept. 23, 2004, Bacolod was identified as one of the beneficiaries of the PBPO’s flyover project.

The plan was approved by then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo but construction started under President Aquino.

It was supposed to be completed end of August but it was fast-tracked and finished ahead of schedule so it could be used immediately.

Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson said the flyover would benefit not just residents of Bacolod but the city’s neighboring towns.

Asked about a second flyover, Singson said DPWH was still studying it. He said a second flyover intended for Bacolod was about to be given to another local government unit.

He said, however, that if the people of Bacolod felt another flyover was needed, then the project would be studied./INQUIRER