DPWH opens new roads going to Benguet, Baguio

The Department of Public Works and Highways on Saturday announced the opening of  infrastructure projects in the province of La Union —the Aringay-Tubao Alternate Road and Anduyan Bridge.

"The opening of these projects will provide a better and faster road network for motorists going to Benguet and Baguio City," Public Works Secretary Mark Villar said in a statement.

The Aringay-Tubao Alternate Road is a 14.24-kilometer road section spanning Aringay-Tubao, La Union which will facilitate a "scenic travel" to AsinHotspring in Tuba, Benguet and Baguio City.

Aringay-Tubao Alternate Road going to Asin Hot Spring in Tuba, Benguet, and Baguio City. DPWH

“This alternate route will lessen travel time from Tuba, La Union to Benguet from 2 hours to 35 minutes and will cut travel time from 2 hours to just 1 hour going to Baguio City,” Villar said.

Meanwhile, the Anduyan bridge serves as an "early Christmas gift" by the DPWH to the people of Barangay Rizal and Alog East in Tubao, La Union.

“Ang kagandahan sa tulay na ito ay hindi na kailangan mag-balsa ng ating mga kababayan. Kung dati rati ay kailangan pa nilang mag balsa upang makatawaid lang sa Aringay River, ngayon ay mayroon na silang kalsada na maaring gamitin sa araw-araw nilang gawain,” Villar said.

The construction of Anduyan Bridge has 12 spans at 30-meter Prestressed Concrete Girder (PSCG) with a total length of 360 lineal meter.

The new bridge has two abutments and 11 piers all resting on bored piles with diameter of 1800 millimeters and 1600 millimeters. Anduyan bridge also has two lanes carriageway and sidewalks on each side with reinforced concrete railings.

“Another impact of this project is that it will decongest traffic on Marcos Highway. Lalo na ngayon na sarado at prone pa rin sa landslides ang Kennon Road. Yung mga kababayan natin na balak magpasko sa Baguio ay maaari nang dumaan dito,” Villar said.

Laoag Bypass road

The DPWH also announced the opening of the Laoag City Bypass in Ilocos Norte.

"We are happy to announce the opening of the last phase of the Laoag City Bypass Road. This will cut travel time from 45 minutes to just 10 minutes," Villar said.

Laoag City is located in the west central part of Ilocos Norte, which makes it hard to transfer goods and transport people, according to the DPWH.

Before the completion of the bypass road, traffic congestion has always been a daily problem, it said.

"The project which covers the construction of 7.99-kilometer road opening, embankment, slope protection and drainage is now fully-completed, with the recent completion of Phase IV covering the construction of 804.9-meter bridge with 655-meter approaches,” Villar said.

“In time for New Year, we were able to complete the last phase of Laoag City Bypass Road that was implemented to divert traffic at Laoag City proper and reduce travel time of motorists from 45 minutes to just 10 minutes,” he added. —Ted Cordero/LBG, GMA News