Road to 30th SEAG to be Completed On Time: DPWH

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) assured the public thta they will finish the road access in Bocaue, Bulacan in time for the hosting of the 30th edition of the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games slated from November 30 to December 11.

Public Works Secretary Mark Villar said that being rushed for completion is the Ciudad De Victoria Interchange Overpass Bridge and Bypass Road to provide direct access to the Philippine Arena.

This as the country is expecting massive attendance for the opening ceremony of the biennial regional multi-sport event by November month-end.

"With all girders for the 80-lineal meters overpass bridge crossing NLEX completely installed and the round-the-clock construction works for a 1.12-kilometer four-lane bypass road connecting the Manila North Road and the Santa Maria to Bocaue By-pass Road as part of the Ciudad De Victoria Interchange Project Phase 1, we will have better accessibility to Philippine Arena come SEA Games grand opening in November," said Villar.

With a budget of PHP260.8 million, the Ciudad De Victoria Interchange Overpass bridge is envisioned to serve as an alternate road to the heavily congested Governor F. Halili Road in Santa Maria, Bulacan. This will also address the usual heavy traffic situation and queuing of vehicles entering the Bocaue interchange.

To increase capacity to two-lane per direction and help alleviate traffic congestion along Governor F. Halili, the construction of additional lanes of the bridge structure at Bocaue Interchange is also on-going.

In partnership with NLEX Corporation, the on-going second phase of the Ciudad De Victoria Interchange Project involves the construction of the southbound acceleration and deceleration lanes for vehicles going to Philippine Arena.

Eventually, a 1.91-kilometer road from MacArthur Highway to Bocaue Municipal will be improved and a 1.3-kilometer road from the Philippine Arena to the existing Patubig Road in Marilao, Bulacan will be constructed.

With the booming industries in the towns of Bocaue, Santa Maria, and nearby areas in the Province of Bulacan and the proposed construction of an international airport which will add to the growing number of vehicles passing through the Bocaue Interchange, a southbound entry as well as northbound entry and exit toll plazas are being constructed at Barangay Tambubong, Bocaue.

The public works chief said that the NLEX Tambubong Entrance/Exit Project of DPWH Region 3 and NLEX Corporation involves the construction of three connecting ramps with a 20-meter average width on the NLEX northbound entry with a length of 180 meters, 240.14-meter northbound exit, and 290-meter southbound entry.

The Tambubong NLEX entry/exit project funded in the amount of PHP79 Million will reduce travel time and facilitate the opening of more business opportunities for the Bulakeños, added Villar.