The Department of Public Works and Highways-Davao (DPWH-11) has cancelled the opening of a segment of the Davao City Coastal Bypass Road.

In a statement, DPWH-11 said the temporary opening of the project’s Segment B (Tulip Drive – Roxas) scheduled for Tuesday, December 16, 2025, will not push through.

“This decision was made in the interest of public safety, as additional safety measures and assessments are still being undertaken to ensure the protection of all motorists and road users,” DPWH-11 said.

During an inspection on December 4, 2025, President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. announced that the Bucana Bridge, which is part of the Coast Road Segment B, would be opened on December 15, 2025.

Following the announcement of the President, DPWH-11 said the road would be opened to the public at 5 p.m. on Monday, December 15, despite the fact that the segment was not yet fully completed.

DPWH-11 tried to fast-track the completion of Segment B but failed to meet the target date.

At the Roxas exit, which serves as the endpoint of the segment, portions of the road remained uncemented and were covered with asphalt temporarily. Instead of four lanes, only two lanes were asphalted.

In preparation for the supposed opening, traffic cones were installed and personnel from the City Transport and Traffic Management Office (CTTMO) were deployed to manage the expected traffic congestion.

CTTMO also put up flood lights as there were no streetlights at the Roxas Exit.

“Kining atong ginahimo karon diri nga traffic plan, tungod kini sa pronouncement nga i-open siya. In fact, dili enough ang among preparation tungod span of time nga kagahapon last inspection namo, unya karon iopen na siya,” CTTMO Chief, Dionisio Abude, said.

Acting Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte earlier described the scheduled opening of Segment B premature, saying that the project remains unfinished.

Duterte also slammed the absence of streetlights and safety and traffic signages at the Roxas Exit, which poses safety risks.

Construction materials, heavy equipment, and open drainage excavations were still visible at the Roxas exit area.

Duterte warned that the DPWH would be held accountable should any incident occur due to the absence of streetlights and safety warnings.