CLARK FREEPORT – The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has announced massive road projects that will complement the transportation projects of the government.
DPWH Secretary Mark Villar said the P14.94-billion Phase I of the Central Luzon Link Expressway (CLLEX) is a 30-kilometer stretch from Tarlac City to Cabanatuan City.
Villar also said during the Philippine Economic Briefing here recently that CLLEX started in 2016 and will be completed in 2020. It will reduce travel time between Tarlac City and Cabanatuan City from 70 minutes to 20 minutes.
“Upon completion, we will begin construction of Phase II which is 35.70-kilometer spanning Cabanatuan City to San Jose City. Its indicative cost is P9.46 billion,” Villar said further.
Other projects include the Plaridel By- Pass Phase II which is a 24.61-kilometer, twolane road that is seen to reduce travel between Balagtas and San Rafael in Bulacan from 69 minutes to 24 minutes.
“Plaridel By-Pass Phase III entails the widening of the 24.61-kilometer road from two lanes to four lanes including 12 bridges, drainage facilities and slope stabilization works. It is estimated to cost P5.26 billion,” Villar said.
The Public Works secretary said the Bagac-Mariveles Road, on the other hand, involves improvement/ concreting of 20.61-kilometer road sections that will connect the Bataan Export Zone and Subic Bay Freeport Zone.
Upon completion, travel time between Mariveles, Bataan and Subic, Zambales will be reduced from 120 minutes to 90 minutes, he added.
This P716.290-million project is 94.50 percent complete and will meet the target date in 2022, he stressed.
Another much awaited project is the Capas-Botolan Road – a 81.63-kilometer eastwest road connecting Capas, Tarlac and Botolan, Zambales.
Upon completion of this P5.91-billion project, travel time will be reduced from 3 hours to 1 hour and 20 minutes, Villar said.
“The new Clark-Bamban- Capas Access Road is a P980-million, 16-kilometer road that will reduce travel time between this freeport and Capas, Tarlac from 120 minutes to 90 minutes. It is 47.53 percent complete with target completion date in 2021,” Villar announced.
And finally, the P450-million, 6.98-kilometer New Clark City-MacArthur Access Road will reduce travel time between Manila North Road and New Clark City from 90 minutes to 30 minutes, Villar said.
“I assure you that we are on the right track in completing and implementing these Build Build Build projects. We made that commitment to you and with the clear vision and political will of President Duterte, we will fulfi ll our commitment and we will not fail in this (Golden) Age of Infrastructure,” Villar told Central Luzon stakeholders.
