The continuous widening of roads and bridges along Iloilo-Antique Road is the top priority infrastructure project of the Department of Public Works and Highways, Iloilo First District Engineering Office.
The widening project is part of the District’s DPWH Multi-Year Program.
For Fiscal Year 2013 and 2014, the District has allocated the total amount of P162.00 Million, intended for road widening of various sections of the said national road.
For the year 2015, an additional amount of P200.00 Million was earmarked for the widening of 7.70 kilometers of roads and P78.00 Million for road rehabilitation and improvement.
In addition, six bridges are currently being widened from two lanes to four lanes to complement the widening of road from two lanes to four lanes.
The bridge widening projects have the total budget allocation of P56.00 Million.
Three of these bridge widening projects are: Reconstruction/Widening of Maninila Bridge in the town of Miagao; Reconstruction/Widening of Malothot Bridge, also in the town of Miagao; and Reconstruction/Widening of Sapa Bato (Nalundan Bridge) in the town of Guimbal.
The Reconstruction of Sapa Bato/Nalundan Bridge in Guimbal, Iloilo was completed last October 2014 in the amount of P 7.44 million.
This and several other bridges along the Iloilo-Antique Road will be widened to complement the on-going road widening.
Once completed, it will provide a safe and convenient travel to the public who are plying this major thoroughfare.
Moreover, three more bridges along Iloilo-Antique Road will be retrofitted and ten more bridges will be undergoing major rehabilitation/repair including the 350-meter long Guimbal Steel Bridge, which is considered as the oldest and longest steel bridge in the province.
Iloilo-Antique Road is a national arterial road which serves as the main thoroughfare from the provinces of Iloilo to the province of Antique, vice versa. This also serves as route from Iloilo to Boracay Island, via Antique.
Once these road and bridge widening/improvement projects are completed, transportation will be faster and more convenient.
These road widening and bridge rehabilitation/widening projects are made possible with the close supervision of District Engineer Cecil C. Caligan, along with his diligent manpower.