Construction of Samal Island-Davao City Connector Bridge Project to commence

MANILA: The government has begun the long-awaited civil works construction of the Samal Island - Davao City Connector (SIDC) Project, and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) recently completed a land survey and geotechnical research using a boring machine on the project.

DPWH Senior Undersecretary Emil K. Sadain inspected the two ongoing drilling of boreholes for the geotechnical investigation at Davao onshore. Sadain conducted the inspection together with Assistant Secretary Constante A. Llanes Jr. and Project Director Rodrigo I. Delos Reyes of Unified Project Management Office-Bridges Management Cluster.

The geotechnical investigation plan prepared by design and build contractor China Road and Bridge Corporation will have a total of 97 boreholes, 63 for Davao onshore, 18 offshore, and 16 for Samal onshore.

Sadain said that the final alignment of the SIDC main bridge, including the connecting eastern/western offshore and onshore approach bridge, the Davao interchange ramp bridge and approach road have been exhaustively studied with most beneficial effects in terms of technical, financial, economic, environmental and social impacts.

Although DPWH considered several proposals for the SIDC bridge alignment, including the one suggested during a recent meeting at DPWH Head Office, the approved final alignment for the sea crossing bridge is a product of comprehensive study by experts and consideration to the environment, as well as the necessary navigational safety management for seacraft and height restriction for air transport, Sadain added.

The meeting was done between Secretary Manuel M. Bonoan, Davao del Norte Governor Edwin I. Jubahib, and the Rodriguez-Lucas family, owners of Samal’s Paradise Island Park and Beach Resort and Costa Marina Beach Resort.

The project has all the necessary permits and requirements from concerned local government units and national government agencies. Both the local government units of Island Garden City of Samal (IGACOS) and Davao City have expressed no opposition to the current bridge alignment, Bonoan added.

In 2019, the Infrastructure Development Council (IDC) of Regional Development Council (RDC) 11 has approved the bridge’s alignment and landing points from Samal Circumferential Road in Barangay Limao, IGACOS to Davao City in between R. Castillo-Daang Maharlika junction, citing its economic and logistical benefits.

The project has also obtained in December 2020 an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) based on the most recent detailed study on the bridge project by Consultants, Ove Arup & Partners Hong Kong Ltd. (Arup) which highlights that the current alignment has the least impact on reefs.

DPWH allayed fears that the SIDC Project will have an adverse effect on marine life and the environment by adopting state-of-the-art modern technology in the construction of deep foundations for sea-crossing bridges. The alignment will not also affect the mountainous terrain of IGACOS compared to suggested alignment by some groups.

The 3.98-kilometer-long, four-lane SIDC, which would connect Samal Island to Davao City, will traverse the Pakiputan Strait with a vertical clearance of up to 47 meters and be supported by two 73-meter-tall pylons.

When finished, it is anticipated to aid in the development of the Davao Region's economy and increase the tourism potential of IGACOS, which is renowned for its gorgeous beach resorts.

Photos from Department of Public Works and Highways

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