Tunneling works for Davao City Bypass Project 80% complete —DPWH

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said Saturday that tunneling works for the Davao City Bypass Construction Project is nearing completion, hitting a significant progress rate to date.

In a statement, the DPWH said it is expediting efforts to complete the country’s first-ever long-distance mountain tunnel.

The agency said its Unified Project Management Office - Roads Management Cluster I (UPMO-RMC I) together with joint venture contractor, Shimizu-Ulticon-Takenaka, has completed about 80% of the tunnel excavation activities for the project and now undergoing concrete lining and waterproofing for north and south portals.  

The 2.3-kilometer twin mountain tunnel is a major component of 10.7-kilometer Contract Package I-1 of the bypass project.

The entire bypass project has a total length of 45.5 kilometers divided into six packages, namely Package I-1 (10.7 kilometers), Package I-2 (12.8 kilometers), Package I-3 (6.1 kilometers), Package II-1 (2.7 kilometers), Package II-2 (3.5 kilometers), and Package II-3 (9.7 kilometers).

The DPWH said Contract Package I-1 has a total estimated cost of P13.23 billion to be financed by a loan agreement between the Government of the Philippines (GOP) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

It is one of the subdivided three contract packages under the Package I targeted to be completed in the first quarter of 2025.

Meanwhile, Contract Package I-3 will complement Contract Package I-1 involving the construction of the 5.6-kilometer four-lane road with one bridge, two cut and cover tunnels, 12 culverts, and 1 overpass, which started its civil works last December 2023.

Contract Package I-2, on the other hand, has its contract agreement for the civil works underway, after the Letter of Acceptance and the Notice of Award were subsequently issued last November 2023.

Another section of the bypass project under Package 2 is locally funded by the national government and is subdivided into three contract packages.

The DPWH said the Contract Package II-1, currently at 36% accomplishment status and targeted to be finished in the first quarter of 2026, involves the construction of a 1.28-kilometer four-lane road and seven bridges with a total length of 1.26-kilometer under contract with Cavite Ideal International Construction and Development Corporation in a joint venture with Wee Eng Construction Inc., and Coastland Construction and Development Corporation.

On the other hand, the implementation of Contract Package II-2 covers the 3.52-kilometer component of the bypass project in Sta. 32+240 to Sta. 35+760 and with the consortium of AIMM Builder & Construction Supply, Nationstar Development Corporation, and China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) posting a civil work accomplishment of 14% from the onset of their mobilization phase in August 2023.

The Public Works Department said the remaining 9.7-kilometer road and bridges under Contract Package II-3, completing the bypass project, is scheduled for procurement this third quarter of 2024.

The Davao City Bypass Project has an estimated total cost of P46.80 billion with the construction supervision in a joint venture of Nippon Koei Co., Ltd., Katahira and Engineers International, Nippon Engineering Consultants Co., Ltd. in association with the Philkoei International, Inc. —Ted Cordero/KG, GMA Integrated News