Iloilo road widening takes off

THE Iloilo City’s road widening project has officially started Thursday, February 28, following the launching and the groundbreaking of the diversion road.

The P300-million worth Phase I of the Iloilo-Jaro diversion road, also called as Benigno Aquino Avenue, is funded by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

The three-kilometer stretch of Phase I will run from Gen. Luna to El 98 in Jaro district. It currently has a four-lane-road, which is the main gateway from the city proper to the Iloilo Airport. It will be expanded into a six-lane-main road: two service roads of two lanes each; and another two lanes for walkways, bicycle lanes, and planting strips.

The road project, which will be constructed by Cebu-based contractor Geo Transport and Construction Inc., will have three pedestrian overpasses: first one passes over the highway near the Esplanade I; second near the Tabucan-San Rafael road; and third at junction El 98 in addition to the existing one fronting the SM City.

All commercial billboards and election campaign materials will also be banned along the diversion road, including cable and electrical wires to pave way for the road project, according to City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog.

Mabilog announced the said ban following the request of Senator Franklin Drilon to clear the main highway of the billboards and spaghetti wires.

Mabilog said he will be asking the cooperation of the City Council to draft a local measure to transfer electrical posts and to bury the cables except high tension wires that will be installed at the roadsides.

Detailed engineering plan is now being prepared for Phase II to start from El 98 street junction up to the Iloilo City-Pavia boundary.

Edilberto Tayao, regional director of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), said his department is committed to finish the whole stretch of the road project by 2016.

The groundbreaking was lead by Senator Franklin M. Drilon, along with Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog, Congressman Jerry Treñas and Vice Mayor Jose Espinosa III.