Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Mark Villar led, on Saturday, October 2, 2021, the inauguration of the completed Phase 1 and 2 of the Ciudad de Victoria project in Bocaue, Bulacan. The Ciudad de Victoria Interchange Bypass Road Project is part of the “Build, Build, Build” (BBB) Program of the Duterte administration.
Ciudad de Victoria Interchange Bypass Road Project
The first phase was to construct an overpass bridge crossing the North Luzon Expressway, which was completed and opened in November 2019 in time for the Philippine hosting of the 30th Southeast Asian Games with the opening ceremony held at the Philippine Arena.
The second phase was constructing a bypass road that would connect the Manila North Road in Bocaue to the town of Sta Maria without passing the busy Governor F. Halili. This means an estimated 35-minute cut (from 50 minutes to only 15 minutes) in travel time since motorists would skip passing the busy Governor F. Halili Road.
DPWH Undersecretary Rafael Yabut, DPWH Assistant Secretary Wilfredo Mallari, Rep. Gavini “Apol” Pancho, Bocaue Mayor Jose Santiago Jr., Philippine National Railways (PNR) General Manager Junn Magno, DPWH Region 3 Director Roseller Tolentino, among others, attended the inauguration.
“As you can see, our agency has been scaling up Central Luzon’s infrastructure assets, and we are aware that improving mobility and accessibility is a crucial driver of economic and social development,” Villar said during the event.
“We are thankful to the DOTr. Now, we have successfully connected the road we built at both sides of the railway,” Villar said.
“More than just being proud of the accomplishments of DPWH, it is always an honor to give good news, especially to the people in the towns of Bocaue and Sta. Maria, as the days of traffic congestion, is finally over,” Villar added.
He said the project could positively impact improving mobility and enhancing accessibility in the towns of Sta. Maria, Marilao, and Bocaue in Bulacan — bolstering economic activities in the province.
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“The project provides more options to motorists going to the Philippine Arena, NLEx, or the neighboring town of Sta. Maria without having to endure the traffic that is often experienced along McArthur Highway and Governor F. Halili Road,” he added.
The Ciudad de Victoria Interchange Bypass Road project is a 1.37-kilometer, six-lane bypass road from the McArthur Highway to Bocaue Municipal Hall. DPWH Region 3 also had to construct a 22.80 linear meter bridge connecting Manila North Road to Ciudad de Victoria and a 1.2-kilometer, four-lane road connecting the Philippine Arena to the Bocaue-Sta. Maria Bypass Road.
Tolentino said the entire road project, which started in 2018, amounted to PHP900 million.
He said the project’s initial phase was inaugurated last November 2019, or days before the grand opening of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games at the Philippine Arena.
The project’s last phase hit a snag due to right-of-way (RROW) concerns since it passed across the ongoing construction of the North-South Commuter Railway Project of the Department of Transportation (DOTr).
However, the DOTR allowed the use of the 30-meter road width within the RROW of the PNR.
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Sources:
- Balbin, M. (2021, October 2). DPWH inaugurates Ciudad de Victoria Project in Bulacan town. Philippine News Agency. Retrieved October 7, 2021, from https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1155413.
- Lazaro, R. E. (2021, October 2). DPWH completes NLEX Ciudad de Victoria Project. Philstar.com. Retrieved October 7, 2021, from https://www.philstar.com/nation/2021/10/03/2131369/dpwh-completes-nlex-ciudad-de-victoria-project.
- Balbin, E. M. D. (2021, July 8). DPWH to clear right-of-way along Ciudad de Victoria Road Project. Ronda Balita. Retrieved October 7, 2021, from https://rondabalita.com/38952/.