Good news to motorists in Davao: the flyover built by Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Panabo City, Davao Del Norte officially opened on Thursday.
The 195.59-meter Panabo City steel flyover will practically eliminate vehicle congestion by providing continuous traffic flow along the busy intersection of Daang Maharlika National Highway-Tadeco and Panabo Wharf Road, the department said in a statement.
The flyover has 304-meter approaches and was completed by the DPWH Unified Project Management Office – Bridges Management Cluster (DPWH-UPMO BMC).
Public Works Secretary Mark A. Villar said the Panabo Flyover “is much needed during this time of crisis when safe and reliable roads are crucial to public use and government response.”
The flyover will serve incoming and outgoing traffic to and from the heart of Panabo City to neighboring towns and urban centers by cutting travel time across the intersection from 60 minutes during peak hours to just 15 minutes.
According to Undersecretary for UPMO Operations Emil K. Sadain, the Panabo Flyover along the north-south direction (Panabo City to Davao City) is part of the national government’s “Mega Bridges for Urban and Rural Development Project,” which involves the nationwide construction of bridges to provide better road network along secondary national highways.
“With this flyover, improved movement of goods and services will surely surge economic development,” said Undersecretary Sadain.
A total of P452.5 million was allocated for the construction of the flyover, which uses the prefabricated modular steel technology of Matiere S.A.S. under the French Government assistance program.
The construction of the flyover will also help reduce carbon emissions that occur due to idling of vehicles at the intersection during traffic. This was closely monitored by UPMO-BMC Project Director Rodrigo Delos Reyes and DPWH Region 11 Director Allan S. Borromeo.
Started in November 2018 and completed February 2020, the construction of the flyover was implemented in two phases.
The first phase involved the laying of bridge substructures, road widening, and drainage components undertaken by the District Office in Davao Del Norte of DPWH Region 11.
The second phase included the construction of the double lane bridge 7.5 lineal meter wide consisting of five spans, two abutments, and four piers as well as road approaches undertaken by the DPWH UPMO Bridges Management Cluster.