The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has completed about 1.3 kilometers of tunnel civil works more than two years since the commencement of activities for the 2.3 kilometers twin tube double-lane road mountain tunnel component at the central portion of Davao City Bypass Construction Project.
In his briefing to Secretary Manuel Bonoan during a recent inspection, Senior Undersecretary Emil Sadain said that equipment and manpower resources of the contractor Shimizu-Ulticon-Takenaka joint venture are working at northbound and southbound directions on both ends of the north and south portals of the road mountain tunnel project.
“Equipment and manpower resources of the contractor Shimizu-Ulticon-Takenaka joint venture are working at northbound and southbound directions on both ends of the north and south portals of the road mountain tunnel project.”
“The centerpiece of contract package 1-1 of Davao City Bypass Construction Project, the length of dug tunnels on northbound and southbound directions of the north portal is at 625 and 676 meters, respectively, while accomplishment at the south portal is 678 meters northbound and 620 meters southbound,” explained Sadain, in-charge of the implementation of the DPWH infrastructure flagship projects.
Joining Bonoan and Sadain in the project inspection are Undersecretaries Eugenio Pipo Jr. and Carlos Mutuc; Project Director Benjamin Bautista with Project Manager Joselito Reyes of Unified Project Management Office-Roads Management Cluster I (Bilateral); and Regional Directors Juby Cordon and Ernesto Gregorio Jr.
The Davao City Bypass Construction Project started under the previous administration’s “Build Build Build” program and continues under the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ‘s “Build Better More” development agenda to decongest traffic and reduce travel time.
The Davao City Bypass Construction Project, which will be 45.5 kilometers long, is among the infrastructure flagship projects started under the previous administration’s “Build Build Build” program and continues under the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s “Build Better More” development agenda to decongest traffic and reduce travel time.
The on-going contract package 1-1 costing ₱13.23 Billion is financed by Special Terms for Economic Partnership (STEP) Loan between the Government of the Philippines and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) under loan agreement numbers PH-P261 and PH-P273.
The on-going tunnel both on southbound and northbound direction involves tunnel excavation, shotcrete works for excavation face, installation of steel ribs, wiremesh and final shotcrete, drilling and installation of rockbolts.
According to Sadain, the tunnel’s two ends in the north and south portal are targeted to break or hole through by February 2024.
Other than the twin tube 10-meter wide and 8-meter high tunnel, this contract package 1-1 involves the construction of four (4) lanes portland concrete cement pavement road with the total length of 7.90 kilometers, three (3) pairs of bridge with the total length of 500 linear meters, two (2) underpasses, two (2) overpasses, twelve (12) box culvert (waterway), and four (4) at grade road crossings.
Package I starts in Davao-Digos Section of the Pan-Philippine Highway at Barangay Sirawan, South of Toril, Davao City approximately 500 meters south of Lipadas Bridge.
It will proceed on a north-northwest direction towards Barangays Marapangi and Bato where it will shift slightly northwest direction upon crossing Lipadas River and will traverse Barangays Lubogan, Alambre, Bangakas Heights and will veer northward into Barangays Mulig and Bago Oshiro until it reaches the University of Philippines Mindanao Campus in Barangay Marapangi Mintal.
The alignment passes Tugbok Proper and will traverse the Davao-Bukidnon Road, cross the Talomo River and proceed on a northwesterly direction towards agricultural lands in Barangays Tacunan and Matina-Biao, cross Matina River, before it proceeds to the tunnel section in Barangay Magtuod.
After the tunnel section, it will continue in the same direction towards Barangay Waan, cross Davao River and continue towards Barangay Tigatto.
It will then proceed to Barangay Cabantian, where the alignment will shift into a northerly direction as it crosses Lasang River and passes towards Barangays Communal, Indangan, Mudiang, and Tibungco.
The alignment will then shift on a northerly to northwesterly direction as it passes through Barangay Mahayag, and makes another shift towards a northeasterly direction as it approaches Barangays San Isidro and Lasang.
It will proceed in the same direction until it intersects with the Davao-Agusan National Highway in Barangay J.P. Laurel, Panabo City where the alignment will terminate.
The Davao City Bypass Construction Project will improve the transport logistics and mitigate congestions in Davao City with travel time of just 49 minutes from the current 1 hour and 45 minutes via Maharlika Highway, thereby contributing to the economic and sound urban development of the City and the Davao Region.
