Tingga Itaas Road Under Rehabilitation

The digging just started three days ago.

Millions of taxpayers' money are again about to go down the drain with the rehabilitation of Tingga Itaas Road, Batangas City.

Some three days ago, along with the advent of tropical storm Falcon, DPWH and the winning contractor started digging holes to break large sections of concrete pavements from the access road leading to Soro-Soro/STAR Toll to down hill slope of the road going to Sabang Bridge.

Although it's uncertain whether it's still part of the project, construction of open canals at the upper portion of the road from Tingga Bridge has also started.

For almost 20 years, the road has been servicing the motorists since its construction connecting Ibaan and Batangas City the concrete. However, due to tear and worn, as well as overloads provided by trucks, the road has cracked a lot and has gone down the ground from its original designed level.

The road that serviced motorists
and commuters is now about to
become a history.

Within the same period of time, the road has undergone numbers of rehabilitation process accounting for too much wastage of the people's money. This time, the current concrete pavement will be excavated off the ground and will be laid with a fresh concrete mix.

If everyone can remember, the long concrete road connecting Ibaan and Lipa City was also dug and constructed with a new one. Evidently, everyone can say "what a big waste of money".

With the said road construction, motorists can expect a slow down on their way in and out of Batangas City. And with the rainy season on the lose, no one can tell how long the project will burden the motorists and commuters and as to when it will be finished.

This is where your money go.

Managed by Department of Public Works And Highways, the project is awarded to JASMIG Construction at the hefty P12.6 M.

New Road Standard


A new standard for national road pavement thickness has been adopted by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), which aims to ensure quality and longer life span for national roads and highways.
DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson said the standardized pavement thickness will prevent the early deterioration of roads due to overloading.

The DPWH has launched a campaign against overloaded trucks and vehicles in Metro Manila, after studies show these contribute to the early wear and tear of roads and highways.

Based on a department order, the thickness for the new construction and rehabilitation or upgrading of Portland Cement Concrete Pavements from now on shall be 280 mm.

The road's frequent visitor.

However, a thickness of less than 280 mm, but in no case less than 230 mm may be adopted depending on the Cumulative Equivalent Single Axle Load (CESAL).

CESAL is the primary criterion used for the selection of the appropriate design of roads, which is dependent on the daily average effect of each vehicle type passing on the pavement.

For pavement rehabilitation works using the crack and seat method, a minimum thickness of 260mm is prescribed for the new pavement that will be constructed on top of the deteriorated pavement.

Overloaded trucks have been causing cracks on highways.
The roads are then supposed to be constructed at
standard that can carry more than enough weight loads
to last longer and to avoid money wastages.

For pavement re-blocking, the thickness of the new pavement will be the same as the replaced blocks.
Singson said a minimum thickness of 50 mm is prescribed for overlaying works. But on grounds of economy, pavement thickness of more that 50 mm will be considered only if the cost of the asphalt pavement of such thickness is less than the cost of a 230 mm thick concrete pavement.

The department order further states that on both pavement types, the thickness of pavement will be verified from pavement design analysis using the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) method as contained on the DPWH Design Guidelines.

New road standard should be
used with this this road's
replacement.

AASHTO is a standards setting body which publishes specifications, test protocols and guidelines which are used in highway design and construction throughout the United States. The Philippines, through the DPWH, is the only country outside North America authorized to use the AASHTO Standards.

For pavement width, the minimum width of the carriageway shall be 6.70 meters, while for rehabilitation or upgrading works involving at least 500 meters, the minimum width of the carriageway to be adopted shall be 6.70 meters (source info).

More photo.

En Route To Ibaan

Column of trees providing shade from the sun.

Taga Ibaan Ako

One thing that's nice about Ibaan is that, rarely, there occurs any traffic jam in its main thorough fares. They only get busy for not more than two hours in the morning when everyone is in a hurry to get a ride going to work and school  -when everyone from different barangays converge down town, and during late afternoon after work and school. But when you get caught between rushing engines and Batangas City and you're on your way to Ibaan, temperatures are often cut short with horns blowing out as if there's a twilight festivities. This is when you need an alternate route to scape the street frenzy.

Getting out of Batangas en route to Ibaan, a pubic or private vehicle often find themselves trapped in a bottleneck at Kumingtang Ilaya after the Lion's Club tower. Few meters from De Joya Capitol Subdivision, almost adjacent to its entrance, and if you're headed to Alangilan, there's waiting shade leading to Perlas Compound at the right side of the road. Take the compound's road, get past one turn, and you'll end up at the service road at the other side of Kumintang Ilaya, Batangas City.

The open brown field. This used to be Batangas
City's dump site. It was closed down during
the time of Gov. Mandanas.

Passing a short bridge, you'll be met with a short column of trees providing shade from the sun. With their shadow cast on the ground, plus a snap of country side's cool breeze of air, you'll feel some breathing space off the hassles of city life.

On the right side, freedom is within reach with wide open brown field that serves as play ground for Biscuit and other thoroughbred friends. The place is safe to trek. There's nothing to worry about since its blue clear wide sky watches over anyone traversing the concrete road. Open field on the left, then fruits and flower bearing trees on the other side. There is life around.

After almost 30 minutes of wandering, you'll meet a cross road. You'll have to turn left which will lead you to the main road. Still part of Brgy. Balagtas, you'll have to pass through another community with few more turns until you exit at out at Tingga Itaas. From there, you'll find the highway clear of traffic where the first bridge from Brgy. Balagtas leading to Tingga Itaas is waiting.

Right there and then, you're on your way to Ibaan on a smooth ride.