ILOILO – Clearing operations have begun at the Aganan flyover site in Barangay Aganan, Pavia, Iloilo, as personnel from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and contractor International Builders Corporation (IBC) prepare for the start of jet grouting on 21 piers.
DPWH Region 6 director Engr. Sanny Boy Oropel said funds allocated for the jet grouting come from the remaining budget for the completion of the flyover, totalling P308 million out of the original P802 million.
The estimated cost for jet grouting the 21 piers is around P275 million, though this amount is expected to rise to P300 million once additional work, such as asphalt overlay and other engineering tasks to enhance the flyover’s appearance, are factored in.
After jet grouting especially at the intersection area, the next step will be to grout the piers that already have standing girders, which will expedite the installation of the superstructure above.
Oropel estimates that the jet grouting activity will take approximately three and a half months to complete.
As for the overall completion of the flyover, Oropel said the timeline will depend on the release of funds from the DPWH Central Office.
“While the jet grouting is expected to take three and a half months, the completion timeline for the entire flyover will depend on when the funds are released,” Oropel explained.
The jet grouting work follows recommendations from Abinales Associates Engineers + Consultants, the firm hired by DPWH to conduct a geotechnical investigation for the project.
DPWH-6 employed a third-party consultant for the Aganan flyover due to differing results from soil tests conducted by United Technology Consolidated Partnership (UTCP) and confirmatory and seismic tests carried out by DPWH-6.
Oropel pointed out the significant discrepancies in the results, which affected the depth determination for the foundation piers. According to UTCP’s data, the firm reached a hard layer of soil at a depth of 24 meters, which was the depth at which they placed the foundation piles. However, DPWH-6’s confirmatory tests showed that the hard soil layer was found at a depth of 40 meters and beyond.
UTCP was contracted by the Bureau of Design (BOD) of DPWH-Central Office to conduct soil testing and design the Aganan and Ungka flyovers in Barangay Ungka, Pavia./PN
