THE 18.20-kilometer Davao City Coastal Bypass Road Project of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is already 43.87 percent done as of April 30 this year.
DPWH Davao Region chief information officer Dean Ortiz told SunStar Davao that the 2018 contract package 1 is already 62.92 percent; package 2, 42.95 percent; package 3, 77.61 percent; package 4, 44.93 percent; package 5, 2.93 percent; package 6, 54.47 percent; package 7, 51.51 percent; and the esplanade is already 68.56 percent. The allocation for 2018 is P2.65 billion.
The Bago Aplaya-Talomo segment or Segment A which started construction in 2017 is already 93 percent done as of May 2019.
“Davao is getting much of the bulk of vehicular traffic these days so together with the Davao Expressway that we will be implementing this year, this coastal road project will serve as an alternative route,” Ortiz said.
“The project will become a solution for traffic in McArthur Highway portion going to the downtown area and diversions road. For those vehicles without transactions in the city, then this is a perfect route for them and it will greatly reduce their travel time,” he added.
Ortiz said one of the features of the project are its exit and entry points in major strategic portions in the city such as in Matina Aplaya, Tulip Drive, Bucana area, Roxas, and Sta. Ana Avenue.
“We are expecting this [project] to be completed either in 2021 or 2022 depending on the implementation because right now, one of our concerns is the road right of way (RROW) in some portions, especially the inland portions,” he said.
The budget for the RROW is already imbedded in the P19.8 billion total budget.
Ortiz said negotiations are still ongoing and compensations are being given to those whose properties will be affected by the project.