The Department of Public Works and Highways is currently undertaking the reconstruction of the 1.26-kilometer section of the Bacolod South Road in Barangay Talubangi, Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental.
The road concreting, costing about P50-million, will improve four lanes of the existing road pavement section with upgraded thickness, provision of reflectorized thermoplastic pavement markings, and installation of illuminated solar pavement leveled marker studs to facilitate smooth and safe travel, especially during night time.
DPWH Secretary Mark Villar said in a statement that the road rehabilitation project, that is being implemented by the DPWH Negros Occidental 3rd District Engineering Office (DEO), has already reached 65 percent accomplishment, as of September 2020, and is targeted to be completed by January next year given fair weather condition.
“Once completed, this road will improve land travel and help in the economic improvement of the province since it is considered a main route for trucks loaded with sugarcane,” Villar added.
Business establishments, commercial buildings, schools, banks, and government offices are located along the road section that leads to the towns of Cauayan, Candoni, and Hinobaan, and the city of Sipalay, interconnected through the boundary of the municipality of Ilog.
The DPWH had also reported that it has already completed the P45.9-million widening of the Bacolod-Silay Airport Access Road (BSAAR) in Silay City, Negros Occidental.
The project involves the widening of the access road, from two lanes to four lanes, with the width of three meters.
Although hampered by the erratic weather experienced towards its scheduled end date, the DPWH Negros Occidental 1st DEO was able to complete the widening of BSAAR in less than six months since it started construction in February 2020, it added.
Villar said the improved access road aims to provide ease of travel among motorists and commuters going to and from the airport, and increase its traffic capacity.
The widening along BSAAR, that serves as a link to the Bacolod-Negros Occidental Economic Highway, is also seen to facilitate faster delivery of services and transport of sugarcanes to mills, and provide ease of travel among sugar producers, traders, rural population, and the general public, Villar said.
The DPWH said it also completed three projects in Kabankalan City recently, including the P64.2 million access road construction in Brgys. Oringao and Daan Banwa. Another road project, worth P38.4 million, that leads to the Sugar Beach and Langub Beach resorts in Sipalay City, is now underway.
Villar said that the road improvement projects leading to Negros Occidental’s tourism destinations are implemented in convergence with the Department of Tourism to promote tourism and socio-economic developments in the province.*GPB
