The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is now rushing the completion of an on-going expansion works of the 24.61-kilometer Arterial Road Bypass in the province of Bulacan.

“With an overall accomplishment of 47.8 percent, we are trying to move forward as quickly as possible to accelerate delivery of the widening from two to four lanes the entire alignment of Plaridel Bypass Road for this highway to keep up with the increasing number of vehicles,” said DPWH Undersecretary Emil K. Sadain.

He said that while things are being fast-tracked, the department is likewise implementing safety measures to ensure safety of road users while workers are doing the renovations.

Sadain, who is overall in-charge of five specialized clusters under Unified Project Management Office (UPMO) Operations, said the road expansion of the DPWH will address traffic woes of motoring public.

The decision to expand the road was done following studies on the steady growth in number of vehicles, including heavy trucks, using the bypass road as an alternate route to Daang Maharlika Highway.

The project, funded by the Government of the Philippines (GOP) and Government of Japan through Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), is the Arterial Bypass Road Project Phase 3 and the final stage has enough road right of way space for additional two lanes since this was considered during the original planning and design phases, according to Sadain.

The arterial road alignment traversed five municipalities of Bulacan namely, Balagtas, Guiguinto, Plaridel, Bustos and San Rafael bypassing the perennial traffic congestion at the core urban areas along Philippines-Japan Friendship Highway, which is also called Maharlika Highway road section of Plaridel, Pulilan and Baliuag to San Rafael.

The widening of the first 2.22-kilometer section of Arterial Plaridel Bypass Road, which included one of Luzon’s longest bridges across Angat River in Bustos, Bulacan under Contract Package 3 was earlier completed during the first quarter of 2021.

Presently on-going at 43 percent is Contract Package 4 from Sta. 49+625 in Bustos to Sta. 57+365.73 in San Rafael awarded to Sino Road & Bridge Group Co., Ltd.

This section, targeted for completion by January 2023, involves construction of 7.38 kilometer additional two lanes of portland concrete cement pavement (PCCP) road, a 36.86 meter single span pre-stressed concrete deck girder bridge, 7 at-grade intersections, a 318.55 meter flyover at intersection, widening of drainage, slope protection and miscellaneous works.

Meanwhile, the construction of additional two lanes for Contract Packages 1 and 2 from Sta. 34+900 in Burol, Balagtas to Sta. 47+400 in Bustos is also on-going under contract with CM Pancho Construction, Inc.

These contract packages which was rolled-out in the first quarter of 2021 covers the PCCP of additional 2 lanes for the 11.82 kilometer road with carriageway width of 7 meters, construction of seven short bridges with a total length of 260.62 meters, 2 overpass/flyovers, extension of 10 reinforced concrete box underpass for farm equipment and animal crossing, 16 at-grade intersections, drainage, slope protection and other miscellaneous works.

As much as the existing two-lane highway remains open even during road construction, Sadain said the contractor should ensure sufficient barricades are installed as he also appeals to the motorists to pay special attention and obey all signs and traffic controls, and reduce their speed as they traverse through work zones.

DPWH UPMO has played an indispensable role in backing the President Rodrigo Roa Duterte administration’s unprecedented Build, Build, Build program.

Some of the UPMO-implemented flagship infrastructure projects completed and opened by President Duterte recently are the BGC Ortigas Center Road Link Project; Estrella-Pantaleon Bridge; and 18-kilometer Tarlac to Aliaga, Nueva Ecija Section of Central Luzon Link Expressway.