Thursday, April 03, 2008 No road closure: flyover contractor
AN engineer of the Banilad flyover contractor said that a total road closure of Gov. Mariano Cuenco Ave. will not happen, as he promised that they will implement it only when the side road is already in place for motorists’ use.
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) 7 also said negotiation for certain crucial pieces of properties is ongoing so that construction of the side roads could already proceed.
In the meantime, WTG Construction and Development Corp. will just do other tasks instead of working on the flyover pier that requires closing off the whole road, said engineer Christoffer Semilla.
He and Atty. Augustinito Hermoso, DPWH 7 legal officer and designated spokesperson for the P86.9-million flyover construction, were present in yesterday’s Cebu City Council session to update the body on the project.
“We are on schedule... (and) we are committed to finish on schedule,” Semilla assured the council when asked if WTG could finish the 390-meter flyover within the projected six-to eight-month duration.
Construction started last Feb. 1 and is expected to be finished in at least six months. The contracted period for building the flyover is 300 days or 10 months.
In a Power point presentation, Semilla said that they are doing pile-driving works and are through with one abutment and for four piers that would support the span.
Construction of the fifth pier would leave a clearance of just 1.5 meters on each side of the road, which is not enough to provide a lane for each traffic direction.
This needs the immediate purchase of at least three lots so WTG could start making the side roads.
But until the properties are bought, WTG will just do other works, like constructing the span for the four piers, Semilla said.
Hermoso told the council that DPWH is already preparing the contracts for the purchase of the affected properties.
He said the owners already agreed to sell their lots, and would just ask the court to settle their objection to the P15,500-per square meter price, which they believe is small.
Hermoso said the owners believed the market price is P20,000 to P25,000 per square meter. (RHM)
