The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
Motorists will soon have another option avoiding a congested Daang Maharlika in Bulacan, with the new 9.62-kilometer Pulilan-Baliuag Diversion Road that is now being paved by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
DPWH Region 3 Director Antonio V. Molano Jr. said the remaining embankment and concreting activities under Phase II of the diversion road project is almost complete with 83 percent of works accomplished.
“We are certain that the whole stretch of Pulilan-Baliuag Diversion Road will be concreted before the end of the year. Its third and final phase which involves widening and construction of a 12.8 lineal meter bridge is also underway,” said Director Molano.
When completed, the new road will divert flow of traffic in Daang Maharlika using a new road that begins at Pulilan-Calumpit Road in Barangay Tibag, Pulilan near North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) and ends in Daang Maharlika in Barangay Tarcan, Baliuag, Bulacan, traversing Pulilan Barangays namely: Tabon, Penabatan, Sta. Peregrina, and Balatong B.
The Pulilan-Baliuag Diversion Road Project has a multi-year funding from the DPWH Infrastructure Program amounting to P582 Million for civil works and P150 Million for Road Right of Way acquisition.
From May 2015 to April 2016, DPWH implemented the project’s Phase I covering the 5.2-kilometer embankment of the Pulilan Section from Barangay Tabon to Sta. Peregrina.
Meanwhile, the agency is also set to complete the first segment of the 7.4-kilometer Sariaya Bypass Road Project that aims to divert traffic along the busy Manila South Road in the province of Quezon.
“With the current pace of implementation, we can possibly finish in the next few months the segment from Junction Manila South Road Daang Maharlika to Morong Bridge costing P181 Million,” said DPWH Region 4-A Director Samson L. Hebra.
DPWH Region 4-A has reported 86 percent work accomplishment for Section 1 with works covering road opening, concreting, and slope protection.
The DPWH Region 4-A and Quezon Second District Engineering Offices are working closely with stakeholders – the local government unit and land owners – to resolve right-of-way issues at Section 2 from Morong Bridge to Gibanga Bridge.
Section 3 on the other hand which covers the portion between Gibanga Bridge and Junction Quezon Eco Tourism Road is on-going and posted 32 percent accomplishment.
The opening of Sariaya Bypass Road is expected to ease the current traffic congestion by providing alternative access from Sariaya to Lucena City and its coastal barangays located within the influence area of Quezon Ecotourism Road.
The project will also facilitate the expansion of existing business opportunities, and in long term alleviate socio-economic conditions of Sariaya residents.