MALOLOS CITY — The expansion of the major bridge of the Arterial Road Bypass Project Phase 3 in the province of Bulacan is now nearing completion.
In a statement, Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar said the widening of the Plaridel Bypass Road seeks to further ensure safety and convenience of the motorists.
“This is among the game-changing projects of DPWH under the Luzon Spine Expressway Network Program aimed at reducing road travel time in Luzon island,” Villar said.
The completion of this route eased up the congestion of traffic at the Daang Maharlika or Pan-Philippine Highway with about 15,000 vehicles diverted to Plaridel Bypass and created an alternative route to the towns of Angat, Balagtas and Pandi.
Undersecretary Emil Sadain said the widening from two lanes to four lanes of the 1.161 kilometer Angat Bridge along Arterial Plaridel Bypass Road is progressing well and will be completed by December this year.
The construction of additional two lanes in Angat Bridge will be able to serve the increasing number vehicles utilizing the Plaridel Bypass Road travelling to and from the eastern towns of Bulacan as well as motorist bound to and from Nueva Ecija and Cagayan Valley Region.
“Although hampered by the work stoppage due to the implementation of Enhanced Community Quarantine from March to May, construction work at Contract Package 3 costing PhP1.09 billion that covers widening of a total of 2.22 kilometer including two bridges namely Angat Bridge and Bridge No. 8 has already attained an overall accomplishment of 89 percent,” Sadain disclosed.
The project, financed by a loan agreement with the Japan International Cooperation Agency, involves the widening from two lanes to four lanes of the entire Plaridel Bypass Road which is 24.61-kilometers in length connecting the North Luzon Expressway to Daang Maharlika in San Rafael, Bulacan.
It was officially launched for public use on May 2018 and has cut travel time from Manila to San Rafael by 45 minutes.