THE Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) moved anew its target completion for the Davao City Diversion Road extension project from July to December 5, 2016.
This developed after the project is still confronted with road-right-of-way (RROW) issues.
The construction of the 2.6-kilometer bypass road extending to Toril, Bangkal-Talomo-Puan section was first eyed to be completed in April 2016.
“This project is supposedly done, but we are hampered by encountering RROW issues, now we are once again moving the target date to December,” DPWH regional director Engineer Mariano Alquiza said Friday, July 8, in a press conference at the DPWH office here.
When asked about what measures have been undertaken by the stakeholders to address the issue on mushrooming of the illegal settlers in the area, Alquiza said that ongoing negotiations and coordination meetings with involved residents, project proponents and other involved agencies are being done to fully settle the issues.
“The illegal settlers are really firm on opposing the project, but we are hopeful that they will finally understand that this project is for the common good,” he said.
The P190-million road project, which construction started last May 2015 is aimed to decongest worsening traffic condition in the city.
The diversion road extension is one of the DPWH’s regular infrastructure projects.
DPWH reported Friday that the bridge component of the project is 60 percent complete and DPWH is closely working with the Davao City Transport and Traffic Management Office (CTTMO) to come up with an efficient traffic scheme. (LMLao and MRSalvacion, MSU Interns with ASP)