CITY OF SAN FERNANDO — A total of P4.08 billion had been released from 2018 to 2022 for the construction of the roadway embankment and drainage of the Pampanga Southern Bypass, construction of which is still ongoing.
“For 2021, we received a budget of P281 million for the construction of two bridges along the road’s alignment and as of April 30, the 104.80-lineal meter bridge at the Lubao-Guagua Section is 68.13 percent complete while the 76.60-lineal meter bridge at the Sto. Tomas-Minalin Section has a current accomplishment rate of 77.43 percent,” Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Regional Director Roseller Tolentino said.
The multi-year project connects the municipalities of Sto. Tomas, Guagua, Minalin, Sasmuan, and Lubao .
“This new road is part of the planned Pampanga Megalopolis and is one of the priority projects of DPWH Regional Office III that will address the perennial traffic congestion on major roads in the province including Manila North Road and Jose Abad Santos Avenue (JASA),” Tolentino said.
“Our Regional Construction Division commenced with the construction of this new bypass road project in 2018 by conducting the road opening of 2.12 kilometers for the Lubao-Guagua Section and another 1.67-kilometer road opening for the Sto. Tomas-Minalin Section. Included in the project’s scope of work were the clearing and construction of the roadway embankment while a series of box culverts were also built along the various sections of the project’s proposed alignment,” he disclosed.
Although some sections of the bypass road remain unfunded, Tolentino is confident that the national government will provide the necessary funds to fully complete the entire length of the bypass road.
When completed, the Pampanga Southern Bypass Road will decongest JASA and other peripheral roads leading to Bataan and Zambales.
It will also be more convenient for motorists to reach North Luzon Expressway as it will be connected to the Sto. Tomas Exit.
