DPWH opens new alternate route to Baguio City, Benguet

FILE: Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Regional Office 1 officially opened on November 26, 2018 the Anduyan Bridge Project in Tubao, La Union with a ceremonial drive thru by DPWH Secretary Mark A. Villar along with DPWH Region 1 Director Ronnel M. Tan and Department of Tourism Region 1 Director Martin Valera. The 360 lineal meters Anduyan Bridge complemented by the 14-kms Aringay-Tubao Alternate Road reduced from 2 hours to 35 minutes travel time from Tubao, La Union to Asin Hot Spring in Barangay Nangalisan, Tuba, Benguet where one can experience the relaxing and soothing effects of sulfuric water. Also, the travel time of 2 hours and 25 minutes from Tubao, La Union to Baguio City will be cut to just 1 hour. (Photo: Department of Public Works and Highways/Facebook)

MANILA — The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) on Monday inaugurated two major infrastructure projects in the province of La Union that will provide a better and faster road network for motorists going to Benguet and Baguio City.

DPWH Secretary Mark Villar said Aringay-Tubao Alternate Road and Anduyan Bridge are now open to motorists.

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 two hours to 35 minutes and will cut travel time from 2 hours and 25 minutes to just one hour going to Baguio City,” he said in a statement.

On the other hand, the Anduyan Bridge in Tubao, La Union was also opened.

“Another impact of this project is that it will decongest traffic along Marcos Highway specially that the landslide-prone Kennon Road is still closed. Those who would like to spend the holidays in Baguio can use this bridge,” said Villar, noting that it is an early Christmas gift by DPWH to the people of Barangay Rizal and Alog East in the said province.

Anduyan Bridge has 12 spans at 30-meter Pre Stress Concrete Girder (PSCG) with a total length of 360 lineal meters. It has two abutments and 11 piers all resting on bored piles with diameter of 1.800 millimeters and 1,600 millimeters.

Anduyan Bridge also has two lanes carriageway and sidewalks on each side with reinforced concrete railings.

“The beauty of this project is that locals does not need to use raft (balsa) to cross the Aringay river as they now have a bridge which they can use every day,” he explained.

Meanwhile, the DPWH also completed the emergency construction of temporary bridge ahead of its completion target in the Mountain Province.

The construction of the Lunas Bridge is estimated to be completed by Dec. 5, but works were finished ahead and opened on Nov. 23.

The 14-meter bridge along Junction Talubin-Barlig-Natonin-Paracelis Road in Barlig was washed out by Typhoon “Rosita” in late October.

Its structure has 10 tons load capacity involves the construction of stone masonry slope protection at both sides of abutments; clearing of debris, boulders, and obstructions; additional protection and armor at the backwall of the existing abutments; and repair of concrete abutment using reinforced concrete.

The construction of the temporary bridge started on Nov. 7 and was facilitated by the maintenance crew of DPWH Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Mountain Province 1st and 2nd District Engineering Offices and assisted by private contractors.