DPWH eyes completion of Laoag bypass road in 2018

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Region 1 said the construction of the third phase of the more than P600 million-four lane Laoag bypass road is now at 97 percent and will be completed in two years.

In a report to DPWH Secretary Rogelio Sing­son, DPWH Region 1 Director Melanio Briosos said Phase 3 of the proj­ect, which is 97 percent completed, has a total cost of P353.463 million and includes the 3.2-kilometer bypass road that starts in Brgy. Sta. Maria, crosses the western Padsan river and exits near Northwest­ern University along the airport avenue and Suba road intersection. Phase 4 of the project involves the construction of a new bridge, which is already 22 percent completed. It is expected to be completed by October 2018.

This road project is an alternate route for motor­ists coming from the prov­ince’s southern section go­ing to the northern towns without passing through Laoag City proper, which frequently encounters traffic gridlock during rush hours.

The first phase of the bypass road was complet­ed on May 5, 2013, while the second phase was completed the following year.

The project, which began in 2012, is joint­ly supervised by DPWH Region 1 and first Ilocos Norte district engineering offices.

The DPWH cen­tral office will construct a bridge to connect the bypass road project across the Padsan River, parallel to the downstream of the existing Gilbert Bridge, which connects the Manila North Road in Brgy. Nan­galisan in the south and Laoag city proper in the north.

Meanwhile, the local government of Nagu­ilian is working on the construction of a central transport terminal in Ortiz, Naguilian, and a mini hydro power plant in Mamat-ing Norte and Lower Bimmotobot as part of Naguilian’s major infrastructure projects.