THE Department of Public Works and Highways in Davao Region (DPWH-Davao) targets to inaugurate the first segment of the Davao City Coastal Road in May this year, said spokesperson Dean Ortiz.
Ortiz said on Tuesday, March 28, that the first segment covering Bago Aplaya to Tulip Drive, is nearing completion.
DPWH-Davao originally planned to open the first segment to vehicular traffic in April but they had to push back to wait for other imported construction supplies to arrive.
He said the main bridge and the railings are almost finished and the bridge approach on both sides will follow suit, thus they aim to complete the remaining works by April and the inauguration will be scheduled in the middle of May.
“So far wala naman ta problema sa (we have no problems with the) carriageway from Bago to Talomo and from Matina Aplaya to Tulip Drive. We are already prepared. We are just waiting for the completion of the bridge that will connect Barangay Talomo to Matina Aplaya,” Ortiz said in a press conference.
However, Ortiz clarified the opening of the first segment of the Davao City Coastal Road will not immediately solve the traffic woes since the majority of the project is still under construction.
He added that there also may be traffic congestion along Quimpo Boulevard when the first segment opens.
“Sa karon, kana pa lang atong ma-open because wala pa man nato nasugdan ang Bucana Bridge which will connect Times Beach padulong didto sa Bucana (For now, that’s the only portion we can open because we haven’t started the construction in Bucana Bridge which will connect Times Beach to Bucana). Dili pa gyod niya fully ma-achieve iyang purpose,” Ortiz said.
But once the entire 17.3-kilometer coastal road is finished, Ortiz said it will significantly reduce traffic congestion in Davao City. ICM