By Sam Ramos
The Department of Public Works and Highways-Davao Region (DPWH-Davao) announced that the Davao City Bypass Construction Project, including its tunnel, is now 56.48 percent complete. The update was provided during a media forum on November 27, 2024, at Ayala Malls Abreeza.
Dean Ortiz, spokesperson for DPWH-Davao, explained that the project is divided into four packages, two of which are still under procurement. He noted that Package 1-1, which includes the 2.3-kilometer twin tunnel—the longest in the Philippines—is already 56.48 percent finished. The tunnel itself is 70.41 percent complete, with only 420 meters of excavation needed at the south portal and 199 meters at the north portal to connect both ends.
Ortiz provided updates on other components of the project. The Matina Bridge 1 is 35 percent complete, while Matina Bridge 2, set to be the sixth bridge crossing in the region, has reached 39.89 percent completion. Overpasses 1 and 2 stand at 51 percent complete, and Underpasses 1 and 2 are at 57.02 percent completion.
The project, which began in 2020 and is expected to be completed by 2027, has faced some delays due to issues related to Road Right of Way (RROW) acquisitions and unpredictable weather conditions. Ortiz noted that negotiations and expropriation processes are ongoing for some land parcels but assured that no major setbacks have significantly hindered progress.
With a total cost of PHP 70.81 billion, the 45.5-kilometer bypass road aims to connect Toril in Davao City to J.P. Laurel in Panabo City. The project is expected to significantly improve traffic flow and promote economic growth in the region.