Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway set to open soon

By Mar T. Supnad

Officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways announced Wednesday steady progress of work on the multi-billion peso expressway linking Tarlac road to Pangasinan and La Union, an advocacy by President  Benigno S. Aquino III to boost economy in Central and Northern Luzon.

The Tarlac-Carmen section of the 88.15-kilometer Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEX) are expected to open by May 31, 2013.

The realization of the innovation and expansion of roads in Central and Northern Luzon will cut travel time and is expected to perk up the economy and tourism in the area.

Once the roads are fully operational, they will provide seamless travel to the Ilocos, Cordillera and Central Luzon regions as these will be linked with the North Luzon and Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressways, said Marilou Camua of the DPWH Project Management Office-Build Operate Transfer.

“The construction of this section, which runs 48.6 kilometers, was 71.18 percent finished as of December, 2012. We are on-track with our target date,” Camua said. “There is still ongoing work in the Agno Viaduct in the 13.72 kilometer Carmen-Urdaneta stretch while construction of the 25.832-kilometer Urdaneta-Rosario part will commence March this year.”

The R12.469 billion road is initially eyed to have two lanes and will be subsequently expanded to four when capacity reaches 25,000 vehicles per day.