MALOLOS CITY (PIA) — Widening of Arterial (Plaridel) Bypass Road in Bulacan to four lanes from the current two lanes is moving ahead swiftly.
The project implemented by Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Unified Project Management Office-Roads Management Cluster 1 aims to make travel to the 22.46-kilometer road, which links North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) and Philippine-Japan Friendship Highway or Daang Maharlika, more efficient.
DPWH Senior Undersecretary Emil Sadain said the road network has provided economic benefits to the traversed five municipalities namely Balagtas, Guiguinto, Plaridel, Bustos and San Rafael with the area transformed into commercial and industrial centers creating jobs and connecting people to major employment areas and attracting more businesses to the eastern part of Bulacan and adjacent province of Nueva Ecija.
Sadain furthered that three contract packages are ongoing to construct two new westbound travel lanes from NLEX at station 34 + 900 in barangay Burol, Balagtas to station 57 + 366 in barangay Maasim, San Rafael.
Funded by Loan Agreement No. PH-P266 between the Government of the Philippines and Japan International Cooperation Agency, the P5.26 billion project under the Arterial Bypass Road Project Phase 3 involves concrete paving on new lanes, installation of box culverts and drainage structures, construction of eight bridges and three flyovers, and slope protection and miscellaneous structures.
Sadain inspected on Monday the 7.70-kilometer contract package 4 in San Rafael town.
“This contract package under Sino Road & Bridge Group Co. Ltd is 90 percent complete and also covers the construction of a 318-meter Flyover No. 4 at the intersection along Kalsadang Bago,” Sadain disclosed.
Meanwhile, the 12.27 kilometer stretch from barangay Tiaong, Guiguinto to barangay Bonga Menor, Bustos under contract packages 1 and 2 awarded to C.M. Pancho Construction Inc. is 42% complete.
“If things go according to plan, the road widening activities for the entire project alignment will be completed within the last quarter of 2023,” Sadain added.
DPWH has earlier completed the widening from two lanes to four lanes of a 2.22-kilometer section under contract package 3 including the westbound two lane 1.12 kilometer-Angat Bridge (Bridge No. 8) which is among the longest bridges in Luzon.
The agency has also started working on the rehabilitation/replacement of damaged concrete on an intermittent section of paved road completed under phase 1 and 2 to accommodate the new load demand. (CLJD-PIA 3)
