DPWH Opens Alternate Route, Bridge Leading to Benguet, Baguio

Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark A. Villar formally inaugurated on Monday, November 26, 2018 two major infrastructure projects in the province of La Union, namely, 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.

The alternate road is a 14.24 kilometers road section along Aringay-Tubao, La Union which will facilitate a scenic travel to Asin Hotspring in Tuba, Benguet and Baguio City.

"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 and 25 minutes to just 1 hour going to Baguio City," Villar explained.

On the other hand, the Anduyan bridge serves as an early Christmas gift by 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 (What's beautiful about this bridge is that our people won't need to ride a raft anymore. If before they needed a raft to cross the Aringay river, now they have a road that they can use for their day-to-day routine)," Villar said.

The construction of Anduyan Bridge has 12 spans at 30 meter Pre Stress 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 along 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 maari ng dumaan dito (Especially now that Kennon Road is closed and still prone to landslides. Our people who plan to spend the Christmas season in Baguio can pass through here)," Villar pointed out.