The Department of Public Works and Highways 11 (DPWH 11) said the first segment of the Davao Coastal Road Project is programmed to be completed in the second quarter of 2023.
DPWH 11 spokesperson Dean Ortiz said the first segment stretches from Bago Aplaya in the southwestern part of the city to Times Beach in Matina.
“We intend to finish in the second quarter of next year and once completed we can open the first segment of the coastal road at Bago Aplaya to Times Beach,” said Ortiz during a presentation during the session of the City Council at the Sangguniang Panlungsod building on Tuesday.
By the time it is finished it is also expected to be available and passable to the public.
Engineer Peter Roque, project engineer of the Davao Coastal Road Project, said the completion of the first segment is slightly delayed.
“From Bago Aplaya to Times Beach ang commitment namin is it will be open in the first quarter of next year,” he said.
The Davao Coastal Road Project began its construction in 2017. The coastal road extends from Bago Aplaya in the South to R. Castillo in the North. The project is composed of four segments: Segment A: Bago Aplaya – Times Beach; Segment B: Times Beach – Roxas Avenue; Segment C: Roxas Avenue – Sta. Ana Wharf; and Segment D: Sta. Ana Wharf – R. Castillo.
Ortiz also said DPWH will also start the construction of the Bucana Bridge next year. It will connect Times Beach to the Bucana area.
The P3.11-billion bridge will be funded through a China government grant, with the agreement signed by the Chinese Embassy in Manila and DPWH in December 2020.
The bridge project is under the Unified Project Management Office (UPMO) of DPWH and according to Roque the UPMO is still in the procurement stage for the said bridge.
Also part of the project is the construction of Sta. Ana Bridge bypassing the Sta. Ana wharf.
The Davao coastal road aims to provide an alternative route to the Pan-Philippine Highway in the southern part of the city, which has been experiencing heavy traffic congestion. It will also serve as a diversion road for inter-provincial and regional transport movements.
