DAGUPAN CITY – The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials assured Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. that the P1.249- billion Pantal-Dawel-Lucao diversion road project will be finished in March as its construction is now more than 80 percent complete.
De Venecia inspected the project the other day together with DPWH Regional Director Fidel Ginez, District Engineer Rodolfo Dion, Mayor Alipio Fernandez Jr., Vice Mayor Belen Fernandez and other local officials.
De Venecia said he is happy with the fast construction adding that it is a fulfillment of a 100-year-old dream.
“This will definitely be another landmark for Dagupan and it is now the biggest project being constructed through the national government and the Japanese government,” he said.
He said it will create big business opportunities for the city and nearby towns.
The project includes the construction of a P903-million Pantal bridge funded from a loan from the Japan Bank for International Cooperation. It is a 380-meter long bridge with a width of 9.7 meters.
The Pantal bridge connects the Pantal-Dawel-Lucao diversion road that aims to reduce traffic and cut travel time in Dagupan City.
The diversion road which is 4.897 kilometers long with two other small bridges which are 12.7 meters wide and 6.1 meters long each, cost an initial amount of P330 million funded by the national government through the initiative of De Venecia with the help of President Arroyo.
De Venecia is adding another P10 million from his fund to fast-track the completion of the project.
The bridge used to connect Barangay Pantal to the mainland but this was washed away by floods decades ago. – Eva Visperas