ILOILO City – Results of the geotechnical investigation on the defective P680-million Ungka flyover are still nowhere in sight.
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Region 6 has not yet received a copy of the results from the Metro Manila-based Abinales Associates Engineers + Consultants, said Assistant Director Jose Al Fruto.
“Naga-base lang kita sa gin-commit sang aton third-party consulting firm that they can provide us the information already by the end of March,” Fruto told Panay News.
He is hopeful the results will be submitted this week or by Wednesday, April 5.
Fruto said he was not able to ascertain if the firm sent its report directly to the DPWH central office, but he expects that they will be given a copy.
The third-party consulting firm started its investigation on March 3.
“Indi lang na lower in cost, although it counts, but more of their technical expertise man,” said Fruto, referring to the firm.
The consulting firm’s geotechnical investigation will last for three months, but the DPWH expected initial results after a month. Another part of the firm’s job is to determine the applicable engineering solution.
After submitting the recommendation, the DPWH central office will assess how to apply the intervention.
Geotechnical investigation, according to trenchlesspedia.com, implies the use of different methods to determine the physical properties of soil and rock below the surface of the earth at a proposed installation site. It helps engineers make decisions regarding the types of tools that will be required to dig through the site most economically. It also assesses the potential environmental impact that a project may have on a particular area.
Geotechnical investigation is an essential step in any trenchless operation because knowledge of subsurface conditions is key to a successful project.
It will focus on determining the cause of the vertical displacement of settlement in piers 4, 5 and 6 (if counting the posts from Christ the King Memorial Park) and formulating the appropriate intervention for the defect./PN
