MALOLOS CITY (PIA) -- Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is fast tracking completion of the Arterial Road Bypass Project Phase 3 in Bulacan.
 
Two civil work contractors are working full blast on the construction of additional two lanes of the 22.46-kilometer infrastructure that is also known as Plaridel Bypass Road.
 
DPWH Senior Undersecretary Emil Sadain said construction of two new westbound travel lanes from North Luzon Expressway at station 34 + 900 in barangay Burol, Balagtas to station 57 + 366 in barangay Maasim, San Rafael will bring economic benefits not only in Bulacan but also neighboring Nueva Ecija.
 
Arterial Road Bypass Project Phase 3 is funded by a loan agreement between the Philippines and Japan through Japan International Cooperation Agency.
 
Sadain inspected on Wednesday the ongoing construction wherein he noted significant progress particularly in the 7.74-kilometer Contract Package 4 which is more than 96 percent and will be completed by April 2023.
 
Contract Package 4, which is under Sino Road and Bridge Group Co. Ltd., covers concrete paving works with a thickness of 35 centimeters on a 20-centimeter cement treated base.
 
It also involves the construction of single span 37-meter Bridge No. 8 and a 318-meter Flyover No. 4.
 
“Both the bridge and flyover are substantially completed after interventions were made to resolve the problems encountered by the project particularly on the hauling of aggregates and other construction materials,” Sadain furthered.
 
Meanwhile, DPWH urged CM Pancho Construction Inc. to expedite construction works for the 12.5-kilometer Contract Packages 1 and 2 by taking advantage of favorable weather conditions with simultaneous implementation of activities on different sites.
 
More than 7.7 kilometers or about 61% of the portland concrete cement paving works for these has already been completed.
 
Contract Packages 1 and 2 consist of similar concrete paving works for the additional two lanes with carriageway to Contract Package 4.
 
The packages also include construction of seven moderate/short bridges with a net length of 260 meters, two overpass/flyover, extension of 10 concrete box underpass for farm equipment and animal crossing, 13 reinforced concrete box culvert, and 16 at-grade intersections.
 
Contract Packages 1 and 2 will be completed by February 2024. (CLJD-PIA 3)