Arroyo to lead rites in extending North Luzon Expressway to La Union

MANILA, Philippines - President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is expected to witness today’s groundbreaking for the P11.6-billion Tarlac-La Union Toll Expressway Project that will be linked to the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX). The 295-kilometer NLEX from the Balintawak toll plaza ends in Sta. Ines exit in Dau, Pampanga. The President will lead the ceremony at the Central Luzon end of the 88.5-kilometer expressway. From La Paz, Tarlac, the road end at Rosario, La Union. The government will provide P3.7 billion, of which P793 million will be used to acquire road right-of-way and P2.9 billion for the construction proper. The project has been awarded to Private InfraDevelopment Corp., a consortium composed of First Balfour, D.M. Consunji, J.E. Manalo, C.M. Pancho, NewKanlaon Construction, Rockford Development, J.V. Angeles, R.D. Policarpio, D.M. Wenceslao, and Engineering Equipment, Inc. Phase I covers a two-lane expressway between La Paz and Rosario. Phase II involves the widening of the expressway to four lanes to accommodate 25,000 vehicles daily. The project will be constructed parallel to the Manila North Road and will turn left after Urdaneta, Pangasinan going to La Union. . - BusinessWorld