By Lyka Manalo Batangas City, Batangas– Vehicular traffic here is expected to improve upon completion of a bridge and access road project, Batangas City lone district Rep. Marvey Mariño said. Mariño said the third bride to span Calumpang river, with aproject cost of R338 million, will be completed by May 2018, and will connect  Sitio Ferry, Barangay Kumintang to Barangay Gulod Labac which are on opposite sides of the river. Motorists are currently using Calumpang Bridge and Bridge of Promise from the town proper going to SM City and uptown barangays in the east and in the south areas where industrial plants are located. The four  lane bridge will be 140 meters long and 15 meters wide. The project contractor, Frey-fil  Corporation  will be using the box girder super structure design which will be the first in the country. “By May, I got an assurance from the contractor na tapos na yan, hindi ninyo nakikita pero ginagawa na yun (bridge) somewhere, dadating dito yun ipapatong na lang,” Marino said. Meanwhile, the diversion road from the Southern Tagalog Arterial Road (STAR) Tollway exit to Pinamucan is about to start. Mariño said the negotations with lot owners on right of way issues are underway. The location of the proposed 18.6- kilometer 4-lane access road  with an estimated cost  of   R2.532 billion was visited by Secretary Mark Villar of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) last November. Mariño said the DPWH has coordinated with the city government which he said has allocated abudget to shoulder the finances on right of way. “Kapag po naayos na yung right of way, bubutasin na yung Tingga Itaas to Sampaga para masimulan na yung diversion road,” Mariño said.