Mayor Jerry Treñas is expecting the construction of one of the four proposed flyovers in Metro Iloilo to start “soon.”
This flyover will be built at the intersection of the Sen. Benigno S. Aquino Jr. Avenue and the President Corazon Aquino Avenue in Barangay Ungka II, Pavia, Iloilo.
“Lapit nalang na mag-umpisa ang construction dira,” Treñas told IMT NEWS.
According to the mayor, the project has already been bidded out to a contractor.
The flyover will be funded by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
Treñas said the city government’s Public Safety Transportation Management Office (PSTMO) headed by Jeck Conlu is currently coordinating with the local goverment of Pavia in formulating a traffic plan.
“Ang aton PSTMO head nagacoordinate na subong sa munisipyo para sa traffic plan ta,” he said.
The three other flyovers will be built at the junction of Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr. Avenue and Felix Gorriceta Jr. Avenue in Barangay Aganan, Pavia; in Barangay Jibao-an, Pavia going to Mandurriao district of Iloilo City; and at the intersection of the national highway and President Corazon Aquino Avenue in Barangay Buhang, Jaro district.
These will also be funded by the DPWH.
Ilonggo Senator Franklin Drilon said the flyovers would “reduce traffic in those areas.”
“We hope to push away traffic from these major thoroughfares,” he added.
Drilon lobbied for the construction of the flyovers.
“We have to move quickly to solve this traffic congestion which irks drivers, commuters and tourists. We must prevent being compared to Metro Manila and Cebu City in terms of the gravity of traffic. It will not be good for the image of the city that we have worked hard on for several years,” he said.
The 10-lane, 15-kilometer Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr. Avenue serves as the main thoroughfare from Iloilo City to the Iloilo Airport in Cabatuan, Iloilo.
Drilon initiated the construction of the Sen. Benigno S. Aquino Jr. Avenue and the President Corazon Aquino Avenue during the Aquino administration. They now serve as main gateways to Iloilo City, easing traffic congestion.
The roads are now a commercial strip, dotted by new hotels and business establishment.
However, the rapid rise of Iloilo and the influx of tourists, Drilon acknowledged, caused traffic congestions particularly during rush hours (from 6:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. and from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.).
“We will address the traffic congestion in the area. While traffic is a sign of development, we cannot let it continue as it will affect our reputation as one of the few livable cities in the country, as well as our bid to make Iloilo a MICE destination,” Drilon said.IMT
Photo courtesy of Randy Javier Fadrigo
