Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Mark A. Villar announced that travel time between Bauang to the surfing town of San Juan in the Province of La Union will soon be reduced by 50 percent.
We are constructing the Bauang - San Fernando - San Juan Bypass Road that will cut the one-hour travel from Bauang via Manila North Road to just thirty (30) minutes, said Secretary Villar.
The multi-year funded project started in 2018 involves the construction of a four lanes 22.19-kilometer bypass road including six (6) bridges with a total length of 1,281 lineal meters.
Upon full completion, this road network is expected to facilitate convenient land travel and will eventually give boost to the province of La Union as the heart of agri-tourism in Northern Luzon, added Secretary Villar.
In his report to Secretary Villar and Senior Undersecretary for Luzon Operations Rafael C. Yabut, Region 1 Director Ronnel M. Tan said that the bypass road project starts at Barangay Payocpoc Norte and traverses barangays of Calumbaya, Buy-otan, Central East, Acao, Lower and Upper San Agustin in Bauang towards Barangays Sibuan-Utong, Birunget, Langcuas, Camansi, Namtutan, Dallangayan Este, Saoay, and Abut in San Fernando City and then to Barangays Dinanum, Lubing, Casilagan, Ili Sur, Ili Norte, Cacapian, Talogtog, Sinapangan and finally ends at Barangay Taboc in San Juan, La Union.
Three (3) contract packages were already completed with a total allocation of P570 million, while two (2) are on-going with 64% and 92.65% accomplishment rate.
Other than road opening and concrete paving, the project also involves installation of cross and lateral drainage, slope protection works, shoulders with bicycle lanes, provision of pavement markings and signages.