THE P76-million Panabo City Flyover will be accessible to the public starting July 16.
Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)-Davao information officer Dean Ortiz said the project was completed during the first quarter of 2020 but has to do finishing touches, which was almost stalled by the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.
"Naa tay mga final touches didto sa road improvement sa ubos kay kailangan pud nato iimprove ang access sa baba kay kung pasagdan lang pud nato, mao lang gihapon. Matraffic lang gihapon (We are doing final touches on the road under the bridge to improve the people's access and ease traffic)," he said.
The flyover aims to decongest the main thoroughfares of Panabo City in Davao del Norte, particularly at the busy Tadeco Road junction along Daang Maharlika.
The bridge spans at around 800 meters, which already includes the 600-meter bridge approaches.
Ortiz, in a project brief sent to SunStar Davao, said it was constructed using "prefabricated modular steel technology" from the French construction materials supplier Matiere S.A.S provided by the French government through an assistance program.
Meanwhile, the City of Panabo welcomed the development, saying it will minimize the occurrence of vehicular accidents and is seen to help boost the economy of the city.
"Kalipay sa tibuok syudad sa Panabo, especially ang among mayor Jose E. Relampagos ug ang tanang Panaboans nga ma-open ning flyover project sa DPWH karong July 16 (We are glad that the flyover project will now be opened on July 16)," Panabo City information officer Michael Angelo A. Resueño said.
"Paspas na ang ekonomiya sa atong syudad sa Panabo and we hope na kaning flyover, mahimo ni siyang symbol of progress sa amoang syudad (The economy in Panabo City is booming and we hope that the flyover will be the city's symbol of progress)," he added.
The construction of the bridge was undertaken by the DPWH Unified Project Management Office-Bridges Management Cluster while the road widening and drainage components were implemented by DPWH-Davao del Norte District Engineering Office.