One of the top destinations in the South for riders is the Kaybiang tunnel located at the boundary of Cavite and Batangas. Many are willing to drive going to this famous faraway tunnel just for photos. Fortunately, Davao will soon have its own picture-perfect tunnel like the Kaybiang Tunnel. Perhaps, even better.
As part of the 45.5-km Davao City Bypass Road project, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will be digging a 2.3-kilometer mountain tunnel in the region. Unlike the Kaybiang tunnel, it will be two tunnels accommodating each direction separately.
“Our contractor is almost ready with their tunnel diggers as the DPWH UPMO team is looking forward to the commissioning of tunneling equipment to excavate the 2.3-kilometer mountain tunnel,” said Emil K. Sadain, DPWH Undersecretary for Unified Project Management Office (UPMO).
DPWH said that the contractor is all set with their tunnel diggers, drill machines, and other heavy machinery to excavate the said tunnel. The equipment which was even sourced from Japan, France, and Korea, includes a horizontal boring machine, twin header base machine/crawler excavator, twin header attachment, erecter with shotcrete machine, drill jumbo, tunnel ventilation, dust collector, wheel loader, truck mixers, and water truck.
The tunnel is only a part of the Davao City Bypass Road project which is a 45.5-kilometer, four-lane highway that stretches from Brgy. Sirawan, Toril, Davao City and will end at Brgy. J.P. Laurel, Panabo City. However, just like the Kaybiang Tunnel, it will surely bring tourism to Davao once completed. It will also create job opportunities in the area during construction as the DPWH is planning to hire more workforce for the project. Moreover, this new road will improve the transport logistics in the Davao Region according to DPWH Secretary Mark Villar.