Mayor John Dalipe met Thursday afternoon with DPWH Information, Education & Communication Social Safeguards Team headed by Engr. Lilibeth B. Rico relative to the upcoming implementation of Zamboanga City East Diversion Road Project, measuring 14.66km funded under the agency’s Asian Development Bank (ADB) Loan No. 3631-PHI.

The project includes the construction of a viaduct starting at Veterans Avenue Barangay Zone 4 to Barangay Mampang with an estimated length of 6.64km and a road (earth embankment section) with an estimated length of 7.96km from Barangay Mampang to Socorro St., Barangay Culianan.

Engr. Rico said the road-viaduct project will serve as alternate route to the existing city roads which are experiencing heavy traffic, especially during peak hours. The project is envisaged to decongest north and south bound traffic, i.e. cargo, trucks, public buses and jeepneys crossing the city’s poblacion area, which presently aggravates the urban core congestion.

The project will traverse Zone 4, Riod Hondo, Mariki, Talon-Talon, Mampang, Zambowood and Mercedes in line with the city’s New Zamboanga International Airport Project.

In preparation for the implementation of the project, the DPWH is currently conducting IEC Campaign Nov. 9-13, and Environmental Baseline Sampling Nov. 13-23. Other activities like stakeholders’ consultation meeting and focus group discussion have yet to be scheduled.

Dalipe was visibly elated as he welcome the new road-viaduct project, saying it will help address the city’s traffic congestion problem and ultimately boost the economy of Zamboanga City.

“We are happy to have this project because we need to open up more roads to further improve the city’s economy

Also in the meeting at City Hall Conference Room were City Administrator Atty. Wendell Sotto, Executive Assistant V William Mariga, Assistant City Planning Officer Jessie Christopher Lapinid, Executive Assistant on Housing Engr. Al Urao and representatives from other concerned city offices.-[Vic Larato]