Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark A. Villar inspected the ongoing construction of the Bauang-San Fernando-San Juan Bypass Road which will provide alternate route to decongest traffic along Manila North Road on the towns of Bauang, San Fernando City and San Juan La Union, once completed.
Secretary Mark A. Villar said that the bypass road will reduce travel time from one (1) hour to 30 minutes starting from Barangay Payocpoc Norte, Bauang to Barangay Taboc, in San Juan.
"On track ang project, kapag natapos ang bypass na ito mapapabilis ang byahe galing La Union papuntang Ilocos at pabalik ng Maynila," Villar said.
Regional Director Ronnel Tan discussed that the Bauang-San Fernando-San Juan Bypass Road is a construction of a 4-lane road with a length of 22.194 kilometers which includes road opening, Portland Cement Concrete Pavement (PCCP), drainage, shoulder, slope protection works, provisions of pavement markings and signages.
The total allocation for the Bauang-San Fernando-San Juan Bypass Road is P2,369,500,000.00 including funds for the Road Right of Way acquisition of P115,261,000.00. The Bauang section has P1,399,500,000.00 while the San Juan and San Fernando Section has P970,000,000.00
Secretary Villar also said that the City of San Fernando has an existing bypass road which is the San Fernando-San Juan bypass road which only traverses six (6) barangays (Barangay Tanqui, Sevilla, Biday ,Bangkusay in San Fernando City and Barangays Nagituban and Ili Sur in San Juan ,La Union) while the new and on going Bauang-San Fernando-San Juan Bypass Road traverses 24 barangays (Barangay Payocpoc Norte, Calumbaya ,Buy-otan , Central East, Acao, Lower San Agustin, Upper San Agustin in Bauang, La Union. Barangays Sibuan-Utong, Birunget, Langcuas, Camansi, Namtutan, Dallangayan Este, Saoay, and Abut in the City of San Fernando, La Union. Barangays Dinanum,Lubing, Casilagan, Ili Sur, Ili Norte, Cacapian, Talogtog, Sinapangan, and Taboc in San Juan, La Union)
"Based on the 2018 Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT) a total of 19,369 motorists per day will benefit on the completion of this bypass road," Villar added.