MALOLOS CITY (PIA) -- Construction of two additional lanes at the 24 kilometer-Arterial Road Bypass Project Phase 3 in Bulacan is now in full swing.
 
In a statement, Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Roger Mercado said the infrastructure gives better connectivity to San Rafael and other eastern Bulacan towns from Balagtas exit of North Luzon Expressway.
 
“The conversion into four lanes is part of the final stage of the bypass road to lower vehicular traffic congestion, facilitate more reliable travel conditions, reduce travel time and improve freight and delivery schedules, reduce emissions and fuel consumption, and increase productivity and economic development,” he added.
 
DPWH Undersecretary for Unified Project Management Office Operations Emil Sadain disclosed that a new concrete pavement thickness standard of 35 centimeters from previous 30 centimeters was adopted in the ongoing construction of two additional road lanes.
 
“Taking into consideration the load-bearing capacity requirement and need for road resilience to container cargo trucks and haulers of aggregates utilizing the Arterial Bypass or commonly called as Plaridel Bypass Road, the adjusted pavement thickness coupled with proper construction methodology will extend the service life of this highway,” Sadain explained.
 
Part of the capacity expansion project under Contract Package 4 is the construction of a 318 meter-flyover.
 
Contract Package 4 under Sino Road & Bridge Group Co. Ltd. also covers construction of additional two lanes of portland concrete cement pavement (PCCP) for 7.38-kilometer stretch, one 36.86 meter-single span prestressed concrete deck girder bridge, seven at-grade intersections, widening of drainage, slope protection and miscellaneous works.
 
This contract package is 55.72 percent complete and will be finished by February 2023.
 
Moreover, civil works are ongoing for Contract Packages 1 & 2 under CM Pancho Construction, Inc. involving 11.82 km of PCCP, seven moderate/short bridges with a net length of 260.62 meters, two overpass/flyovers; extension of 10 reinforced concrete box underpass for farm equipment and animal crossing, 13 box culvert, 96 pipe culvert; 16 at-grade intersections, drainage, slope protection and miscellaneous works.
 
Meanwhile, Contract Package 3 covering a length of 2.22 kilometers was already completed in March 2021 which involved the construction of additional two lanes for Bridge No. 8 (Angat Bridge) with a length of 1,120.7 meters with seven spans pre-stressed concrete continuous box girder erected by a balance cantilever method, 40.86 meters Bridge No. 9, 1.063 km. PCCP works, widening of underpass (approach of Bridge 8 and along Provincial Road), widening of drainage, slope protection and miscellaneous works.
 
Funded by Loan Agreement No. PH-P266 between the Government of the Philippines and Japan International Cooperation Agency, the Arterial Bypass Road Project Phase 3 has enough space for network expansion with available road right of way for additional two lanes consistent with the original long-range plan for the arterial road.
 
The arterial road alignment traversed five municipalities namely Balagtas, Guiguinto, Plaridel, Bustos and San Rafael bypassing the perennial traffic congestion at the core urban areas along Philippines-Japan Friendship Highway otherwise known as Maharlika Highway. (CLJD-PIA 3)