BAMBANG, Nueva Vizcaya (PIA) - The bypass road project of the Department of Public Works and Highways in this province worth P897.85 million is expected to be completed by 2025

Project engineer Elmer Escobar said the 5.418-kilometer national project which was started in 2018 has only a one-kilometer road portion remaining to be completed.

The project was earlier targeted to be completed in December last year including the construction of a 13.4 carriageway, a bridge connection, and the acquisition of road right of way, but due to unforeseen circumstances, the work program was delayed. 

“We have encountered delays due to road works, particularly on the side of the mountain. There are hard rocks that need to be dealt with,” Escobar said.

He said the unforeseen project components needing additional funding requirements like box culvert construction, road alignments, and road right-of-way settlements, among others led to the project's plan revision.

Escobar further said, that once completed, the by-pass road project will  decongest traffic along the national highway, and shorten travel time by 14 minutes.

“The travel time from Bambang town to Manila will be reduced by 45 to 60 minutes and it will benefit 10,000 travelers per day, especially during the influx of commuters on long vacations,” he said.

Escobar said the completion of the bypass road project will also accelerate economic growth and rural development in the province, particularly in Bambang town.

The Regional Development Council-Project Monitoring Committee recently inspected the bypass road project in Bambang town.

Governor Jose Gambito has urged the DPWH to fast-track the completion of the road network which seeks to provide alternate routes for commuters going in and out of the Cagayan Valley Region.

“Our province is the gateway to Region 2 so this will aid a faster and safer travel of our commuters to various parts of Cagayan Valley,” he said.

Gambito also requested the DPWH to open a portion of the bypass road project to ease the traffic burden among the commuting public. (OTB/BME/PIA Nueva Vizcaya)