DAVAO CITY – The 18.50-kilometer Davao City Coastal Road Project of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will have bicycle lanes measuring about two meters in width, affording cyclists a view of the majestic Davao Gulf once it opens to the public.
DPWH-Davao region Public Affairs and Information Officer Dean Ortiz said on Tuesday that aside from bike lanes, jogging lanes with a width of one meter have also been integrated into the road project.
Ortiz said they have yet to schedule the opening of the initial phase, covering the Junction Bago Aplaya to Talomo section, but added that the project is “ready for inauguration.”
The coastal road, however, remains closed to drivers and cyclists.
“Once inaugurated, we will immediately open it to the public,” he said.
Eugenio Raful Pipo, Jr., undersecretary for regional operations in Mindanao of DPWH, said earlier that the “Junction Bago Aplaya to Talomo section” has been allocated a budget of P2.6 billion.
This entire project involves the construction of a four-lane road with bicycle lanes, including the construction of 11 bridges, which started in 2017, according to him.
He said the road project starts at Junction Davao-Cotabato Road passing through the coastal lines of Junction Bago, Junction Talomo, Matina Aplaya (Times Beach), Roxas Avenue Section to Sta Ana Wharf and R. Castillo.
The project is expected to reduce the travel time from Junction Davao-Cotabato Road (Bago Gallera Section) going to R. Castillo Avenue (downtown area) and vice versa by 30 minutes, benefiting at least 10,000 travelers per day, according to him.
Ortiz said earlier that P145 million has been allocated for the construction of dedicated bicycle lanes in the city this year.
The bike lanes will have a total length of 22.786 kilometers, covering the major thoroughfares of the city, he said.
The initial routes where the bicycles lanes may be put up include Davao-Cotabato Road, Quimpo Boulevard, Sandawa Road, Daang Maharlika Highway, Roxas Avenue, and Quezon Boulevard.