A FLYOVER that will decongest traffic between the Iloilo International Airport and Iloilo City is expected to be opened soon following Monday’s topping out ceremony.
“This is expected to cut travel time from Iloilo City to Iloilo International Airport in Sta. Barbara-Cabatuan towns and vice-versa from the usual 45 minutes to only 20 minutes,” the Iloilo City government said in a Facebook post of the ceremony attended by Ilonggo Senator Franklin M. Drilon and local officials.
The 453.70-meter is one of four flyovers, with a total cost of P1.2 billion, lined up for construction within the Metro Iloilo area beginning Jan. 2020.
The Metro Iloilo area covers Iloilo City, the neighboring towns of Pavia, Oton, Leganes, Santa Barbara, Cabatuan and San Miguel, and the neighboring island province of Guimaras.
Also on Monday, a formal groundbreaking was held for the River North Bank Road, which is intended to help decongest heavy traffic between the city and southern towns of Iloilo province.
Construction for the five-kilometer road, which will also be called Iloilo Sunset Boulevard, is ongoing, according to the project brief of the Department of Public Works and Highways-Western Visayas regional office.
It will cost about P751.57 million, including drainage structures, river bank protection, and lighting.
It will traverse between Barangay Tabucan in Iloilo City’s Mandurriao district and Barangay Cagbang in Oton town.
Iloilo City Mayor Jerry P. Treñas said the local government will handle the landscaping for the road project, which will also have walkways and bike lanes.
“This project aims for a sustainable and greener Iloilo. Its completion will boost further development in the city in the fields of tourism, economy and infrastructure,” the city government said. — MSJ