07 December 2009
QC sees early completion of P86-million underpass
Although the target completion date is set in February next year, Quezon City officials said the P86-million underpass connecting the Quezon Memorial Circle (QMC) to the vicinity of the Philippine Coconut Authority (Philcoa) will be finished this month to protect pedestrians and improve traffic flow in the area.
With millions expected to troop to the park, City Engineer Joselito Cabungcal said the early completion of the underpass allows the public to enjoy the new amenities inside the park this holiday season without the danger of being run over by speeding vehicles on Elliptical Road.
In an inspection, Cabungcal met with general contractor Jaime Pajara and project engineers to scrutinize pertinent details to ensure that government specifications are strictly followed.
Pajara assured the public that he never took shortcuts nor did he ever sacrifice safety in all his engineering works in favor of profit in his long years of dealing with the government.
He made the clarification as he was questioned if the underpass will be sturdy and structurally sound since it will be finished two months ahead of the scheduled completion date.
Under the contract, the 105.65 lineal-meter QMC-Philcoa pedestrian overpass in barangay Vasra was started on February 16, 2009 with the target completion date on February 11, 2010 or an expiry period of 360 days.
With the work in full blast, Cabungcal told motorists to try alternative routes as traffic congestion becomes unavoidable at peak hours near the construction site of the underpass.
He appealed to the public for their patience and understanding saying the inconvenience is only temporary explaining the influx of park goers may cause a little traffic congestion.
To cope with the situation, Cabungcal advised them to schedule their trips accordingly and leave for their destination earlier than usual if passing through the working site is unavoidable.
“If passing through the Quezon City Memorial Circle/Philcoa route is necessary I suggest that the drivers give sufficient lead times to enable them to reach their appointments, meetings, conferences and other occasions on time,’’ Cabungcal said.
Cabungcal said the second underpass is patterned after the first underground pedestrian crossing although it is a bit longer due to the distance from Elliptical Road to Commonwealth Avenue. The first pedestrian underpass connects the QMC to the Quezon City Hall Compound.
He noted that Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr. seeing the need to safeguard the pedestrians asked the city engineer’s office to build the underpass for the public’s convenience and safety when crossing the streets connecting the Quezon Memorial Circle to Commonwealth Avenue.
Earlier due to the expansion and improvement undertaken by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Commonwealth Avenue, it earned the tag of being Metro Manila’s killer highway as vehicles increased their speed on the concrete and paved roadway.
Cabungcal explained that Pajara Construction, the winning bidder of the project, has extensively worked on the underpass to meet its target completion date to ease public inconvenience.
As to the overhead pedestrian overpass nearby, Cabungcal said the city government is set to relocate the structure at the most appropriate portion probably at the junction of Visayas Avenue in Project 6.
Quezon City government officials preferred underpasses from overpasses since the former do not block the scenic view of the city especially in the area surrounding the Quezon Memorial Circle.
By Chito A. Chavez
Manila Bulletin
December 9, 2009
