ILOILO City – The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Region 6 is all ready for the opening of the P591-million Hibao-an flyover in Barangay Hibao-an, Mandurriao district on Dec. 15.
A dry run will be conducted on Monday, Dec. 11, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
DPWH-6 officer-in-charge Engr. Sanny Boy Oropel said the purpose of the dry run is to check what else can be improved to ensure smooth traffic flow as well as the installation of signage.
Oropel, however, said that three-axle vehicles, motorcycles, tricycles, and tricycles are restricted from using the flyover.
“It will be open sa all types of vehicles except sa three-axle kay laba na sia kaayo, so indi sia naton pagpa-agyon kay basi mag-traffic ukon ginutok sa babaw,” Oropel told Panay News.
Hibao-an flyover would be opened 24/7 to cater to motorists especially this holiday season.
As of this writing, Oropel said the construction of the flyover was complete; only finishing touches are being done like painting works.
The DPWH-6 chief further said that although the flyover will be opened, the road widening underneath may take time to complete due to the lot owners’ resistance to sell their property to the government.
But, he added, the full opening beginning Dec. 15, could help improve the traffic condition in the area especially during rush hours.
The Hibao-an flyover, positioned along the Iloilo Circumferential Road (C-1), stretches 240 meters and boasts two lanes featuring six 40-meter-span pre-stressed concrete girders (PSCG).
Construction commenced in late 2020.
The flyover aims to facilitate access to the southern part of Iloilo and the neighboring province of Antique while reducing traffic congestion in the neighboring towns of Pavia and San Miguel, as well as the roads within Mandurriao district.
On Oct. 19, former Senate President Franklin M. Drilon visited the Hibao-an flyover and affirmed, “We will open it just in time for Christmas.”
“You can see the traffic here before was terrible and that is why we work for the funding of this project. This is one of the four flyovers that we funded last years of my term in the Senate and we’re about to finish it,” added Drilon./PN
