The 38.2 million peso widening project of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) along a section of Kabankalan-Bais Road in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental will speed up delivery of agricultural products and better travel to and from south-west portion of the city.
Secretary Mark A. Villar, citing reports from DPWH Regional Office 6 (DPWH-RO6), explained that the ongoing improvement effort entails the widening of both sides of the road with the length of 1.47 lane-kilometer, each side measuring 3.65 meters wide and 12 inches thick, with metal guard rails installation and reflectorized thermoplastic pavement markings.
According to DPWH Negros Occidental 3rd District District Engineer Rodney A. Gustilo, the district engineering office has already widened approximately 50 percent of the project length and is targetting to complete civil works by July this year.
When completed, the upgrade from the current two (2) lanes to four (4) lanes is seen to ease traffic from Kabankalan City to nearby cities and towns.
The widened road will also enhance the efficiency in delivering agricultural and local products from various communities in Negros Occidental, opening vast opportunities for socio-economic improvement in the locality.
The Kabankalan-Bais Road is classified as a national road that traverses through one of the mountainous terrains of Kabankalan City. Most of the areas traversed by the road are agricultural lands, making farming the primary source of income of local residents.