Wednesday, April 30, 2008 RDC team inspection reveals 10 sections of Transcentral Highway are critical
AT least 10 sections of the Cebu Transcentral Highway are considered critical and need immediate repair and rehabilitation, a Regional Development Council (RDC) team found during a recent inspection.
A report submitted by the team stated that while most part of the 32.5-kilometer highway is still in good condition, damage on the road and shoulders is very evident in some sections.
The two-lane highway is still passable but on the failed sections, only one lane is serviceable. These sections include Kilometers (km.) 18.431 (near Ayala Heights), 19.800 (in Barangay Sibugay), 25, 36.800 and 38.500.
Unstable
The team, made up of personnel from the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) 7, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) 7, and private sector representative Jose Mari Bigornia, also found that soil and ground condition along the highway is unstable.
The team believes that damage was caused by ground movement due to the presence of water below the ground.
It was also observed that in some sections, soil erosion took place because of inadequacy or deficiency of a drainage or canal. Run-off water that slides down from one side of the road is not properly channeled to the other side, down to the foot of the cliff.
Improper channeling of runoff water may have also weakened or destroyed the side slopes.
Short-term and long-term actions were recommended to address the problem.
Short-term remedies include the immediate repair of the hanging concrete pavement and rehabilitation of slope protection in Barangay Sibugay.
Proper drainage and adequate slope protection should also be provided, so water droppings should not erode or damage the slope.
Long-term actions suggested include having the DPWH 7 conduct studies that may include the construction of a two-lane viaduct at km. 36.800, realignment of some road sections, and installation of piles around slip areas to stabilize the ground necessary for constructing erosion control and slope protection infrastructure.
Cost-sharing
Aside from requesting funds from the National Government funds, DPWH officials said they may explore the possibility of having a cost-sharing arrangement with the Aboitiz company in the maintenance of the highway.
The inspection was conducted on orders of Emmanuel Rabacal, chairman of the RDC’s Infrastracture Development Committee (IDC).
Rabacal issued the order after Roberto Aboitiz, chairman of the Cebu Industrial Park Developers Inc. wrote to DPWH Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane about the current state and safety concerns of highway.
Aboitiz said that due to eminent danger in several sections of the highway, many Japanese investors and other foreign guests were forced to take the longer Naga City-Toledo City route in traveling from Cebu City to the special economic zone in Balamban town.
Rabacal called yesterday’s special meeting of the IDC, Regional Land Use Committee (RLUC) and Regional Project Monitoring Committee (RPMC) to discuss the inspection result and recommendations. (EOB)
