DPWH opens new road to Baguio City

By Liezle Basa Inigo and Freddie Lazaro

TUBAO, La Union – Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark A. Villar formally inaugurated on Monday the 14.4-km Aringay-Tubao Alternate Road and Anduyan Bridge in La Union, which will serve as alternate routes to and from Baguio City and other parts of Benguet.

“The alternate route will lessen travel time from Tubao, La Union to Benguet from 2 hours to 35 minutes and will cut travel time from 2 hours to just one hour going to Baguio City” Villar said.

               Villar, along with Tubao Mayor Dante Garcia, DPWH Region 1 Director Ronnel M. Tan and Department of Tourism (DOT) Region 1 Director Martin Valera conducted the drive-through inauguration of the road and Anduyan Bridge.

The said project will also decongest traffic along Marcos Highway.

“Lalo na ngayon sarado at prone pa rin sa landslide ang Kennon road. Yung mga kababayan natin na balak mag pasko sa Baguio ay maaring dumaan dito (Now that Kennon Road is still closed and prone to landslides, those who plan to spend Christmas in Baguio may use this road),” Villar said.

The Anduyan Bridge, meantime, will benefit residents of Barangay Rizal and Alog East in Tubao, La Union.

“Ang kagandahan sa tulay na ito ay hindi na kailangan mag-balsa ng ating mga kababayan. Kung datirati ay kailangan pa nila mag-balsa upang makatawid lang sa Aringay River, ngayon ay mayroon na silang kalsada na maaring gamitin sa araw-araw nilang gawain (This bridge will allow residents to cross Arinagy River safely and conveniently, unlike before when they had to use rafts),” Villar said.

Anduyan Bridge has 12 spans at 30 meter Pre Stress Concrete Girder (PSCG) with a total length of 360 linear meters.

“This alternate route will lessen travel time from Tuba, La Union to Benguet from two hours to 35 minutes and will cut travel time from two hours and 25 minutes to just one hour going to Baguio City,” Villar added.

The new bridge has two abutments and 11 piers all resting on bored piles with a diameter of 1800 millimeters, and 1600 millimeters.

Anduyan Bridge also has a two-lane carriageway and sidewalks on each side with reinforced concrete railings.

La Union Governor Francisco Emmanuel Ortega III, thanked the Duterte administration for the completion of the project. -- With a report from Betheena Unite