Flyover temporarily closed during peak morning hour

TRAFFIC stalled near the flyover in Barangay Maguikay, Mandaue City for two hours yesterday morning after a steel plate covering an excavated portion of the flyover was dislodged.

The flyover was opened to traffic as early as 4 a.m. yesterday, but traffic personnel closed it past 7 a.m. after the hole caused a motorcycle to fall over.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) 7 started its repair of the flyover's expansion joints last Thursday night. Laborers dug a portion of the flyover to replace damaged expansion joints.

They then covered the excavated part, about 50 centimeters wide and six inches in depth, with a steel plate so vehicles can pass over it.

Solved

The steel plate got dislodged as vehicles pass through the flyover. Only trucks can pass over the dug portion.

Traffic enforcers opened the flyover to traffic around 9:45 a.m., after the steel plate was placed back on the hole.

DPWH 7 Project Engineer Roy dela Cruz said the contractor will assign workers to watch the steel plate during daytime to prevent another accident.

Dela Cruz said they might put sand bags on the excavated portion instead of a steel plate.

Repair works on the flyover are scheduled at night until Feb. 3. It will be closed from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. on Jan. 26 and 27.

Detour

From Jan. 28 to Feb. 1, the flyover will be closed from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. It will be closed from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. on Feb. 2 and Feb. 3.

Edwin Ermac, Traffic Enforcement Agency of Mandaue head, has advised motorists to take the road below the flyover or take alternative roads like the UN Ave. and Plaridel St.

The repair of the expansion joints of the Maguikay flyover is the last part of the P34-million project rehabilitating the four-kilometer stretch of the Cebu North Hagnaya Wharf Road.

Dela Cruz said the DPWH 7 spends at least P8 million to repair the flyover's expansion joints.