To alleviate the heavy traffic along the Bocaue section of Manila North Road from NLEX exit and entry toll, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Mark Villar led the inauguration of the P900 million Ciudad De Victoria Interchange and Overpass Bridge and Bypass Project on Saturday.
The inaugural ceremony was attended by DPWH Senior Undersecretary Rafael C. Yabut, Assistant Secretary Wilfredo S. Mallari, Congressman Gavini “Apol” C. Pancho, Bocaue Mayor Jose Santiago Jr., Philippine National Railways (PNR) General Manager Junn B. Magno, DPWH Region 3 Director Roseller A. Tolentino, DPWH Bulacan 1st District Engineer Henry Alcantara, and District Engineers Ed Santos and Aristotle Ramos.
The projects are expected to improve the movement of people and goods in the Province of Bulacan wherein it will be an alternate road to the Governor F. Halili Road or Bocaue-San Jose Road in Sta. Maria which has been notorious for traffic gridlock, a dilemma that has troubled commuters and impeded economic productivity in the province.
“More than just being proud of the accomplishments of DPWH, it is always an honor to give good news especially to the people of the town of Bocaue and Sta. Maria as the days of traffic congestion are finally over”, said Secretary Villar. He added the completion of the Ciudad de Victoria Interchange Overpass and Bypass Road project creates a positive impact not only in improving mobility, but also in enhancing accessibility in the towns of Sta. Maria, Marilao, and Bocaue in Bulacan – bolstering economic activities provincewide. “The project provides more options to motorists going to the Philippine Arena, NLEX, or the neighboring town of Sta. Maria without having to endure the traffic that is often experienced along McArthur HIghway and Governor F. Halili Road,” Villar added. “This is a Duterte legacy that we have promised to the Filipino people and rest assured that the DPWH will continue to deliver quality projects as we have already laid down a great foundation for great infrastructure development, added Secretary Villar. According to RD Tolentino, the project was implemented by the DPWH Regional Office III (DPWH-3), the construction of a 1.37-kilometer, 6-lane Bypass Road from the McArthur Highway to Bocaue Municipal Hall that include the construction of a 22.80 l.m. bridge connecting Manila North Road to Ciudad de Victoria; and a 1.2-kilometer, 4-lane road connecting the Philippine Arena to the Bocaue-Sta. Maria Bypass Road consists of the last segment of the entire road project amounting to P501.5-million.
It was learned that the entire road project, which was started in 2018, amounted to P900-million where the project’s initial phase was inaugurated last November 2019, days before the grand opening of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games held in the Philippine Arena.
The completion of the project expected to reduce travel time between Bocaue and Sta. Maria from 45 minutes to 10 minutes where it was a long-term solution to traffic woes that has long beset this area. Implemented by DPWH – Regional Office 3, the project fulfilled the promise of a more responsive public works as it will alleviate traffic situation or queuing of vehicles along Bocaue Entry/Exit Toll of the North Luzon Expressways (NLEX).”Little by little, we have improved the travel experience to rid our commuters of the hassle, facilitate the swift transfer of goods to the markets, and to stimulate the economic recovery after the onslaught of the pandemic,” Director Tolentino said.