Authorities are now discussing the proposed construction of a new expressway that will connect the southern province of Laguna to Metro Manila via the Laguna Lake.
Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Undersecretary Emil K. Sadain met with Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) officials and other consultants as they discussed plans regarding the detailed engineering design (D.E.D.) activities as well as the technical, economical, social and environmental aspects of the Laguna Lakeshore Road Network (LLRN) Project.
The LLRN Project–Phase 1 covering Laguna Lake’s western side will see the construction of a 37.6 kilometers mainline road, 6.1 kilometers local connecting roads, and 7.3 kilometers interchanges and slip roads that stretches from the side of Lower Bicutan all the way to Calamba City in Laguna.
It consists of viaduct and embankment will have eight interchanges, and these are Sucat, Alabang, Tunasan, San Pedro/Biñan, Santa Rosa, Cabuyao, and Calamba.
“The meeting highlights the plans and strategies on how the government can smoothly implement this flagship infrastructure project under ‘Build Build Build’ program that will strengthen road transport efficiency between Metro Manila and the neighboring province of Laguna to facilitate economic development,” said Sadain, also the Chief Implementer of the ‘Build Build Build’ program.
Present during the initial meeting in Alabang were LLDA General Manager Jaime C. Medina and Assistant General Manager Generoso M. Dungo, DPWH Unified Project Management Office (UPMO) Roads Management Cluster 2 Project Director Sharif Madsmo H. Hasim, and Bureau of Design OIC Director Edwin Matanguihan.
Also present were Project Manager Soledad Florencio, Overall DPWH Project Manager for Asian Development Bank (ADB)-funded Projects, Project Manager Zenaida B. Mauhay (LLRN Project Team Leader), Project Manager Sol Abasa, and other LLDA and DPWH LLRN team members.
Since the activities started December 2021, also present to provide informative updates during the meeting were the Consultant’s Service Contract for the D.E.D. signed on November 2021 by Mercado, the team from CTI Engineering International Co. Ltd. in joint venture with Chodai Company Limited, Oriental Consultants Global Company Limited, and Nippon Engineering Consultants Company Limited, in association with Angel Lazaro & Associates International, DCCD Engineering Corporation, TCGI Engineers and KRC Environmental Services.
The D.E.D. will be carried out for 15 months, from December 2021 to February 2023 with technical and financial support from the ADB via the Infrastructure Preparation and Innovation Facility (IPIF) under loan number 3886-PHI.
Upon strong representation of DPWH-UPMO Operations headed by Undersecretary Sadain, LLRN Project was approved by the NEDA Board through an Ad Referendum in October 2021.
Meanwhile, Japanese experts representing LLRN Phase 2 at the eastern side under feasibility study stage also joined the meeting via video teleconference platform.
LLRN Phases 1 and 2 will form the outer ring high standard highway for the Laguna de Bay that will provide a faster and safer alternative for motorists traveling north or south.