MALOLOS CITY — Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has accelerated road widening activities in the 24.61 kilometer-Arterial (Plaridel) Bypass Road in Bulacan.
The agency is taking advantage of dry weather and the increase of people allowed to work on-site under Alert Level 1.
DPWH Undersecretary for Unified Project Management Office (UPMO) Operations and Build Build Build Chief Implementer Emil Sadain said the widening of Arterial Bypass Road from two lanes to four will not only provide more convenience to the travelling public but also faster delivery of local goods of Central Luzon and Cagayan Valley to Metro Manila.
“The ongoing project is being undertaken in various contract packages, starting off with the portion in barangay Tiaong in Guiguinto at station 34 + 900 to barangay Bonga Menor in Bustos at station 47 + 400 awarded to C. M. Pancho Construction Inc,” he disclosed.
This stretch under Contract Packages 1 and 2 involves the construction of 11.82-kilometer, two-lane concrete road with as-designed concrete pavement thickness of 350 millimeter on hardly compacted portland cement treated base course to form a strong and durable highway and prolong its service life.
The contract also covers the construction of seven short bridges with total length of 241 meters, two flyovers, 10 underpass, drainage facilities, and slope protection works including provision of miscellaneous activities such as installation of road signs, kilometer posts, guardrails, and pavement markings.
Also ongoing is Contract Package 4 under Sino Road & Bridge Group Company Ltd. that covers the widening 7.74 kilometers from station 49 + 625 in barangay Tambubong in San Rafael to station 57 + 365 at the Philippines-Japan Friendship Highway otherwise known as Daang Maharlika Highway in barangay Maasim also in San Rafael.
The contract package which is at more than 66 percent complete and targeted for completion by October 2022 also covers the construction of a 318 meters flyover.
Implemented by DPWH UPMO Roads Management Cluster 1 (Bilateral), the ongoing road widening is under the third phase of the project funded by a loan agreement between the government of the Philippines and Japan International Cooperation Agency.
Widening of another major component of the bypass road was earlier completed in 2021 covering the 2.22 kilometer section under Contract Package 3 including the Angat Bridge (Bridge No. 8) which is among the longest bridges in Central Luzon at 1.12 kilometers.
Despite going full blast, DPWH and its contractors are complying with the construction and health safety guidelines of the government.
SOURCE: Carlo Lorenzo J. Datu (PIA3)
