TACLOBAN CITY – The groundwork for the construction of the P4 billion Tacloban causeway project has now resumed, thus said Engr. Edgar Tabacon, the regional director of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
The project, which aims to connect the Tacloban Daniel Z. Romualdez (DR) Airport to the main road at the city proper, is expected to offer an improved travel experience by offering to the motorists scenic drive, as well as pedestrians who prefer walking, running, and biking, aside from cutting travel time.
The project starts at the Magsaysay Boulevard connecting Tacloban City Hall and Kataisan point of the DZR Romualdez Airport in Barangay 88, San Jose District to offer an alternate route for motorists coming from the city proper going to the province’s main gateway.
May this year, the project was temporarily stopped after the city council issued a resolution directing the DPWH to address the environmental concerns noting that this could adversely affect the fishing community along the Cancabato Bay, a declared marine protected area.
The DPWH then submitted a revised design which included doubling the length of the bridge from 180 meters to 360 meters and installing of a sewerage water treatment facility.
Due to these modifications, the original budget of P3.46 billion had increased to P4 billion.
“Maganda rin ang daming suggestion, recommendation and nakita natin na madami pa pala ang dapat nating i-consider and we are thankful na lalo nating napa improve ang design,” Tabacon said.
“Mas lalong napaganda ang ating structure at ma mamaximize ang benefit na maibibigay sa mga tao,” he added.
Aside from the bridge, the causeway involves the construction of a 4-lane road embankment measuring a total of 2.56 kilometers, provision of a separate bike lane, and the installation of concrete canals, sidewalks, and wave deflectors on both sides.
Tabacon said that the causeway was designed to withstand disasters and high humidity while also offering protection to nearby communities against erosive tidal movements caused by weather disturbances.
Once completed, this will reduce travel time from the city proper to the airport and is expected to complement the future new airport terminal building designed to accommodate international flights.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
