Bago Aplaya-Tulip Drive segment of Davao coastal road to open in May

By MAYA M. PADILLO

Dean Ortiz, spokesperson of the Department of Public Works and Highways 11 (DPWH 11), revealed on Monday that DPWH 11 is seeking to open the first segment of the Davao City Coastal Road from Bago Aplaya to Tulip Drive section by end of May this year.

“Paningkamutan sa ahensya sa DPWH na maabrihan gyud ang first segment gikan sa Bago Aplaya padulong Tulip Drive na section sa Davao City Coastal Road by the end of May this year. Mao na ang maayong balita para sa mga atong kaubang Dabawenyo. Kay sa karon humana na kung kana nga segment ang atong istoryahan, humana ang dalan so ang ginahulat na lang gyud nato karon is ang completion sa tulay,” Ortiz said over Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR) on Monday.

Ortiz said that based on their inspection conducted last week, approaches and the railings for the bridge are the only ones that are being working on.

He also said the segment will serve its purpose as a bypass road going to the other side of the city.

“Ang pinakadako na trabahuon is kaning Bucana-Matina (Times Beach) na tulay. Karon ang approaches niya naa na ug ang mismong structure na lang ang buhaton,” he said.

DPWH has started working on the second segment of the coastal road from Tulip Drive to Roxas Avenue.

Ortiz said DPWH 11 has started demolishing big structures on Roxas Avenue following the settlement of the Right-of-Way (ROW) acquisitions.

“Karon nagsugod na ug demolish sa dagko na building didto kay na settle na nato ang Right-ofWay acquisition and road widening na sad ang mahitabo,” he said.

The 17.33-kilometer coastal road project will cover Bago Aplaya to R. Castillo Street. Its construction started in 2017 and has faced delays due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Ang timeline gyud ani is 2024 given na wala pay bridge sa Bucana seguro masibog sibog gamay ang timeline for completion,” Ortiz said.

The project stretches from the Toril district in the southwestern part of Davao City to the downtown area.

The coastal road is intended to provide an alternative route to the Pan-Philippine Highway in the southern part of the city, which has been experiencing heavy traffic congestion.