P12.5-B expressway to north to open

It’s all systems go for the opening of the Tarlac-Carmen section of the 88.15 kilometers (km) Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEX) on May 31.

“The construction of this section, which runs 48.6 km, is 71.18 percent finished as of December.

We are on track with our target date,” said Marilou Camua of the Department of Public Works and Highways Project Management Office.  “There is still ongoing works in the Agno Viaduct on the 13.72 km Carmen-Urdaneta stretch while construction of the 25.832 km Urdaneta-Rosario part will commence on March this year,” Camua added.

An all-Filipino consortium composed of R.D. Policarpio and Co. Inc., C.M. Pancho Construction Inc., New Kanlaon Construction Inc., D.M. Wenceslao and Associates Inc., J.E. Manalo and Co. Inc., and D.M. Consunji Inc. currently handle the TPLEX construction.

The P12.469-billion road is initially eyed to have two lanes and subsequently expanded to four when capacity reaches 25,000 vehicles per day.  Once fully operational, it will provide seamless travel to Ilocos, Cordillera, and Central Luzon regions as it will be linked to the North Luzon and Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressways. (WLB/CLJD-PIA 3)