Plaza Independencia closes for restoration, tunnel's final phase

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Government is temporarily closing from public the Plaza Independencia starting yesterday until December 15 for its restoration and to give way to the construction of the final phase of the subway that is part of the viaduct section of the Cebu South Coastal Road Project.

Last Wednesday, the City Council approved the resolution authored by Councilor Nestor Archival for the purpose.

Archival, who heads the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, said that the Parks and Playground Commission will already start the restoration of the historic park after it was affected by the tunnel project.

The City Council approved the request of the Parks and Playground so that no life will be endangered while the Japanese firm Kajima Corporation is finishing the final stage of the subway section.

According to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), they are already in the final stages of completing the Cebu South Coastal Road Project (CSRP), which involves the Segment 3B-2 Subway Section located beneath the Plaza Independencia connecting to Sergio Osmeña Avenue.

DPWH said that the subway is a first-of-its-kind project in the country being undertaken by one of the most experienced contractors in the world, the Kajima Corporation.

The project involves the construction of 610-meter, twin-box tunnel by cut-and-cover method, 186-meter reinforced concrete retaining structure and 177.50-meter road works for the north approach.

The original design was not for a tunnel but a flyover but was changed as it would entail going directly through the historical site. — Ferliza C. Contratista/WAB   (FREEMAN NEWS)