DPWH Adds Over 1,500 Kms Of Roads, 354 Bridges In Ilocos Region

Aside from the roads and bridges, 1,124 flood mitigation structures and 8,929 classrooms were also delivered in the region's provinces.

“Looking back on November 26, 2018, we opened two major infrastructure projects in the province of La Union, leading to Benguet and Baguio City. The Aringay-Tubao Alternate Road and Anduyan Bridge in Tubao, La Union has since facilitated scenic travel to Asin Hotspring in Tuba, Benguet and Baguio City,” DPWH Secretary Mark Villar said.

In July 2019, the 7.319-kilometer, four-lane Candon City Bypass Road in Ilocos Sur also became serviceable, decongesting traffic along the section of the Manila North Road (MNR) that traverses Candon City.

In December 2020, Bislak Bridge in Vintar, Ilocos Norte, which is part of the access road leading to trades and economic zones in the province, was inaugurated. Its opening gave residents a safer way to cross the Bislak River, which was only crossed using a bamboo raft during the rainy season.

On January 18, 2021, the 7.17-kilometers Urdaneta City Bypass Road that crosses two major road intersections of Urdaneta-Dagupan Road and Urdaneta-Manaoag Provincial Road was also completed. It is seen to address traffic bottlenecks during peak hours along Manila North Road in Urdaneta City, Pangasinan and will eventually establish an improved national road system in the province.

Meanwhile, other high-impact projects are under way within the region.

One of these is the access road leading to Mapita Tribal Community and View Deck in Nayong Aguilar (Ylang Ylang Plantation) dubbed as the Daang Katutubo which is now 84.74 percent completed. The road aims to boost the tourism and agri-tourism industry as well as to have a quality and world-class tourist destination in the municipality.