Traffic rerouted as works on Infante flyover start today
Diagram of the traffic rerouting traffic rerouting to be
implemented by the TIMEU as a result of the
construction of the Infante flyover.
Expect heavy traffic upon entering the Diversion Road intersection starting today as half of the road fronting the University of the Philippines in the Visayas Iloilo City campus will be closed to give way to the piling works for the Phase I of the flyover project in the area.
The city's Traffic Management and Engineering Unit (TMEU) thus implemented a traffic rerouting to affect public utility vehicles (PUVs) coming from the Molo area.
SPO4 Bernardino Quinto, TMEU's chief of operations, said the initial traffic rerouting applies only on the duration of the project's Phase I. Subsequent traffic schemes will be implemented as the flyover construction progresses. He said the contractor informed them that the project has nine stages of construction.
For the Phase I, half of Gen. Luna Street starting from Infante intersection to Ybiernas intersection would be closed affecting vehicles coming from the Molo area. The other side which is going to Molo area and the Diversion Road will remain open.
Quinto said because of the road closure PUVs coming from Oton, Mandurriao, Arevalo and Molo Baluarte upon reaching the Diversion Road intersection must take the right turn to Infante Street, then left to Delgado Street, left to Ybiernas St. then right to Gen. Luna St.
Meanwhile, PUVs coming from the southern line like Tigbauan, Guimbal, Igbaras, Tubungan, Miag-ao and San Joaquin shall take the Molo Baluarte road in going to the Iloilo Terminal Market.
Vehicles from the central line will have the same route except for Sta. Barbara which will take the same route as that of the PUVs coming from Molo but has to turn left to Jalandoni St. in going to Gen. Luna St.
Quinto said vehicles taking Gen. Luna St. in going to Molo district or the Diversion Road area shall remain in their usual route for the duration of the Phase I.
Quinto said a new traffic adjustment will be implemented at the start of Phase II. He said they have told the contractor to inform them one week before completion of each phase of the project so they can make the necessary preparations.
The Infante flyover project is part of the Presidential Bridges Program under a grant from the United Kingdom.
Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) regional director Rolando Asis said two flyovers will be built in Iloilo City under the program. The other one will be built along Diversion Road and Jalandoni Street, fronting a mall.
Asis said the Infante flyover which has a length of 299 linear meters is expected to be completed in about four months. He said, except for the foundation piles, its superstructure would be primarily steel fabricated.
Asis said the Diversion-Jalandoni flyover will have the same specifications as that of the Infante flyover. Its construction will start after the completion of the Infante flyover.
Interestingly, the two flyovers to rise in Iloilo City would be the first of its kind in Western Visayas. Construction works is undertaken by the government as supervised by the DPWH.