Access roads and bridges leading to New Clark City (NCC) in Capas, Tarlac will be constructed this year to link together the existing roads within the Clark Special Economic Zone, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said Wednesday, June 30.
Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark A. Villar said that the 6.4-kilometer (km) New Clark City to Tarlac-Zambales Road, which has two bridges, will be connected to the completed 6.22-km MacArthur Highway to New Clark City Road via the Kalangitan Access Road.
Villar said this would form a continuous road network within the area.
“The construction of this much-needed access road will provide an alternate route to NCC aside from the existing North Luzon Expressway/Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway and serve as access road to tourism spots in Capas such as the Capas National Shrine and Capas Death March Monument,” the secretary added.
Road widening works and the construction of drainage along the MacArthur Highway to NCC have already been completed. Meanwhile, the construction of its reinforced concrete bridge, which will replace the temporary steel bridges, is scheduled for completion this year.
The 5.6-km portion of NCC to Tarlac-Zambales via Kalangitan Access Road, on the other hand, is also slated to be finished this 2021.
Tarlac Second District Engineer Neil Farala said the construction of drainage, installation of solar light emitting diode (LED) street lights, and painting of pavement markings have all been programmed in 2022.
The road projects are being constructed under a convergence project between the DPWH and the Department of Tourism-Tourism Road Infrastructure Program (DOT-TRIP).