TARLAC CITY (PIA) -- Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) inaugurated a new bridge that was built parallel to Barangobong Bridge 1 along the Paniqui-Camiling-Wawa Road in Tarlac.

The P305-million infrastructure is located at barangay Rang-ayan in Paniqui town.

DPWH Regional Director Roseller Tolentino said the significance of the Barangobong Bridge lies in its role in enhancing access to goods and services, streamlining the delivery of agricultural products to market centers, and its potential to attract more tourists to Northern Luzon as the Paniqui-Camiling-Wawa Road serves as an alternate route to Pangasinan.

For his part, Tarlac 1st District Representative Jaime Cojuangco emphasized the importance of proactive problem-solving for unexpected connectivity and accessibility challenges, underscoring the newly inaugurated bridge's role as a significant solution to further enhancing transportation and accessibility in Tarlac and neighboring areas, thereby ensuring safety, efficiency, and reliability.

DPWH Regional Construction Division OIC-Chief Jayson Jauco explained that the project, funded over three fiscal years from 2020 to 2022, involved the construction of a 324.8-meter, two-lane parallel bridge.

It was undertaken under the agency’s Bridge Program with the aim of supporting Tarlac's transportation needs and enhancing inter-province connectivity.

The project’s scope of work includes construction of 32 bored piles, 16 coping beams, 60 Type IV – Pre-Stressed Concrete Girders, and three five-span continuous deck slabs.

It also covers a total of 429.24 meters of roadway approaches for both sides, as well as asphalt overlay covering the bridge deck and extending 60 meters along both approaches. (CLJD-PIA 3)