Sen. Mark Villar says the P23-B Samal-Davao bridge should go through
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SAMAL-DAVAO BRIDGE. Former Secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and now-Senator Mark Villar expresses optimism that the Samal Island–Davao City Connector (SIDC) project will push through. In an interview Thursday (Oct. 5, 2023), the senator pointed out that the project is still undergoing preparatory works, such as a feasibility study. (PNA photo by Robinson Niñal Jr.)
MindanaoHerald | Sen. Mark Villar says the P23-B Samal-Davao bridge should go through | DAVAO CITY – The project to build the Samal Island–Davao City Connector (SIDC) is still expected to go ahead by Senator Mark Villar, who used to be the secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
In an interview here on Thursday, Villar said that the project needs preliminary work like an engineering plan and a feasibility study (FS).
“This project costs a lot of money.” “The feasibility study would take about a year, and the detailed engineering design would take about another year and a half,” he said.
The PHP23 billion SIDC project is meant to improve the flow of people and goods, which will help the Davao region’s business.
DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan said in a past interview that the SIDC would begin “before the end of the year.”
Bonoan admitted that the project has had some legal problems because some landowners won’t give the road the right of way.
“The landowners are still giving us trouble on the Samal side,” Bonoan said.
Some of the places where the beautiful bridge project will land are on the Samal Circumferential Road in Barangay Limao, in Island Garden City of Samal (IGACOS), and in Davao City, near the R. Castillo-Daang Maharlika junction.
The SIDC is 3.9 kilometers long and has ramps in Davao City, a 24-meter-wide grade road, and a circle on Samal Circumferential Road.
When it’s done, the bridge will have four lanes, be supported by cables, and have a high clearance of up to 47 meters.
Up to 25,000 cars will be able to pass through the SIDC every day, cutting the 30-minute ferry boat ride between Samal and Davao City down to just five minutes. (via PNA)
