Days before the grand kick-off of the 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games at the Philippine Arena, Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark A. Villar inaugurated on Tuesday, November 26, 2019 the Ciudad de Victoria Interchange Overpass Bridge and Bypass Road in Bocaue, Bulacan, which will be used by the delegates as the main route going to the 55,000-seater indoor stadium.
The Ciudad de Victoria Interchange Overpass Bridge and Bypass Road will also address the usual heavy traffic situation and queuing of vehicles entering the Bocaue interchange to reduce travel time to the town of Sta Maria, Bulacan from the usual 50 minutes to 15 minutes via Ciudad de Victoria.
Secretary Villar said that the construction of the bypass road and bridge which started January this year was fast-tracked in time for the opening ceremony of the 30th SEA Games on Saturday, November 30, 2019 at the Philippine Arena which is considered as one of the largest indoor mixed-use facilities in the world.
The ceremonial opening of the road project was also attended by Senators Joel Villanueva and Francis Tolentino; Bulacan Governor Daniel Fernando; Representatives Apol Pancho, Miro Quimbo, Alfred Vargas, Feliciano Belmonte, Precious Hipolito Castelo, and Mike Defensor; Atty. GP Santos of Maligaya Development Corporation; DPWH Assistant Secretary Eugenio Pipo Jr. and Region 3 Director Roseller Tolentino; Bocaue Mayor Joni Villanueva, Sta Maria Mayor Russel Pleyto, San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora, Valenzuela City Mayor Rex Gatchalian; DPWH Bulacan 1st District Engineer Henry Alcantara and Asst. District Engineer Aris Ramos; and NLEX officials.
“Efficient roadways and increased road capacity will do a great deal in the success of the opening rites for the Philippines hosting of biennial multi-sport event involving participants from the 11 countries of Southeast Asia”, Villar added.
A game changing project, Ciudad de Victoria Interchange Overpass Bridge and Bypass Road connecting the Manila North Road and Sta. Maria-Bocaue bypass road will serve as an alternate road to the heavily congested Governor F. Halili Road in Sta. Maria, Bulacan.
“With our anticipation on the volume of vehicles and traffic jams during the opening ceremony, the bypass road shall provide ease of transport to delegates who will be competing for the pride of their respective countries,” Villar said.
Scope of works include concreting of four-lane road, construction of 80.80-linear meter overpass bridge crossing North Luzon Expressway, and acceleration/deceleration lane with 42.80-linear meter concrete bridge and 757-linear meter road.
The P260-million project was funded under the 2018 General Appropriations Act (GAA) and implemented by the DPWH Regional Office 3 under the leadership of Director Tolentino.
Eventually, a 1.91-kilometer road from MacArthur Highway to Bocaue Municipal will be improved and a 1.3-kilometer road from the Philippine Arena to the existing Patubig Road in Marilao, Bulacan will be constructed.