Ternate-Nasugbu tunnel target completion in April 2012

The 303-meter underground tunnel that passes through the Puerto Azul resort in Nasugbu, Batangas and connects to Ternate, Cavite now goes all the way through after the last pieces of solid rock were blasted away.  Projected completion of the tunnel is in April 2012 according to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).   In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange on Monday, the resort’s developer, Boulevard Holdings Inc. (BHI) said they held the final blasting ceremony last November 29 and had several motor vehicles pass through the whole length of the country’s longest highway underground tunnel.   BHI said the tunnel will reduce Manila-Batangas travel time from 4 hours to 1 hour and 15 minutes and will be a boost for tourism and farm trade in the surrounding locales.   According to a status report from the DPWH, the tunnel has been in construction since January 2009, but the project's contractors, SEG Rock Works and SANVIL Blasting Services, said they started their work in March 2009.   The report said the project involves not only the construction of the tunnel, but also the concreting of an existing 1.619 meter two-way gravel road and the building of two bridges. — ATL/ELR, GMA News