Bitan-ag Bridge to be completed next month

• Source:http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cagayan-de-oro/local-news/2016/01/05/bitan-ag-bridge-be-completed-next-month-450174
• Thursday, January 7, 2016

By Pamela Jay F. Orias

THE Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Northern Mindanao has re-scheduled the completion of the Bitan-ag Bridge which started May 2015.

DPWH information Sandra Flores earlier said the completion date of the bridge along CM Recto was supposed to be on October 2015 but was reset to February this year for "uncontrollable" reasons.

Flores said the hold-up was also caused by the delay of the approval of the executive order necessary for traffic re-routing.

The construction was also repeatedly deferred due to changes of plans.

"Example ana is wala mag-expect na ma-igo ang underground pipes sa ilalom ana like anang mga telephone lines, sa tubig, sa electricity, so we had to revise the plan again," she said.

She added the weather situation in the city could also affect the construction.

"Unta gayud mapadayon na mu-uyon ang panahon para wala na'y undang ang atong pag-build aron na gayud madali," Flores said.

Roger Pino, 35, a jeepney driver, urged the DPWH to fast-track the completion of the project.

"Murag nakabantay ko taud-taud na gayud na diha hangtod karon wala pa gihapon nahuman. Unta dali-on na kay usahay magkagubot ang mga jeep raba gayud walay mu-give way," Pino said.

Meanwhile, traffic is being rerouted along the national highway in Barangay Bulua to make way for the building of bridge touted as the solution to flooding in the area.

The new span will be 1.1 meters higher than the existing highway while the bridge will be about 12 meters long. Flores reassured business owners beside the bridge that there will be no flooding in their area.

The construction work will raise the level of the road surface starting at the vicinity of Honda Cars and will end near the factory site of Vjandep Pastel in Barangay Bulua.

Flores said to counter floods, they have removed three culverts to let floodwater drain faster.

Flores earlier encouraged residents to be responsible with their trash, seen as the major reason behind perennial flooding.

She added that public utility jeepneys and trucks may now use the third lane which is now open for use.

"Murag ni-gaan na diha dapit tungod kay three lanes na ang gina-gamit," Flores said.