Construction of Mambaling flyover experiences delay

CEBU, Philippines - Construction of the Mambaling flyover will not be finished by February 18, contrary to what was anticipated by the Department of Public Works and Highways.

DPWH 7 Director Pedro Herrera Jr. said the bad weather Cebu has experienced the past weeks has inadvertently slowed down the construction. He said the project is 92.03 percent complete, but the remaining works - construction of the concrete slab, concrete sidewalk, railings, lighting facilities, approaches and the demolition of existing center island - would need two months more to accomplish.

“The contractor is eager to complete the project ahead of schedule and they are working 24/7 (in a week) however, due to unfavorable weather condition, there might be a need to move the target date of completion,” Herrera said.

The concrete pouring for the slab and sidewalk was originally scheduled on the second week of January, but the same had to be cancelled because heavy rains had rendered the site unworkable, he said. 

The construction of the concrete slab is a pre-requisite for the installation of pre-cast railings and lighting facilities.

“The embankment of the approaches was also hampered due to the unworkable ground condition, of which the compaction activity to be done layer by layer so as to attain the required density, is not feasible at this time,” Herrera added.

The city also needs to deal with the center pole of the skywalk in Barangay Mambaling, which is seen to hamper the flow of vehicle traffic once the flyover starts to be operational.

If the center pole would not be removed, vehicles would be forced to turn right after descending the flyover, which will reportedly cause congestion. The contractor has proposed to use beams to replace the center pole and support the skywalk.

Willy T. Go, owner of WTG Construction, the contractor of the flyover project, explained that they have offered to do the job, but the same have to be under a separate agreement because it is not part of the existing contract with DPWH.

Go said they expect to finish the project by March after which the flyover would need to undergo “curing” for another month before it can be opened to the public.

Construction of the P110-million flyover began in April last year. It is expected to reduce up to 40 percent the traffic along Natalio Bacalso Avenue, C. Padilla Street, and the junction of the South Road Properties. — (FREEMAN)