A BETTER and faster travel experience awaits motorists passing by the Daang Maharlika, as the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) formally opened to traffic the new Pulilan-Baliuag diversion road Thursday, May 9.

DPWH Secretary Mark Villar, together with DPWH-Central Luzon Director Roseller Tolentino and Bulacan Second District Representative Gavini Pancho, led the inauguration of the new multi-year road project, which broke ground in 2015 and was completed this year.

Villar said the completed road bypassed the overly-congested sections of Maharlika Highway in the adjacent municipalities of Pulilan and Baliuag, resulting in shortened travel time.

Motorists headed to North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) may now use this alternate road that begins at Pulilan-Calumpit Road in Barangay Tibag, Pulilan near the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) and ends in Daang Maharlika in Barangay Tarcan, Baliuag, Bulacan, traversing several Pulilan barangays.

"The DPWH is keen on constructing more bypass roads due to our continued desire not only to improve traffic flow but to ensure the safety of travel.We are also aware that transportation improvement projects like these can affect the local economies of Pulilan and Baliuag, as well as the quality of life of the Bulakenyos," Villar said.

The P509.694-million four-lane 9.6-kilometer diversion road was implemented by the DPWH-Central Luzon headed by Director Roseller Tolentino.

"Isa ito sa mga maipagmamalaki naming proyekto. Dahil sa diversion road na ito, hindi na kailangan baybayin ng mga Bulakenyos ang kahabaan ng Daang Maharlika. May alternatibong daan na silang pwede gamitin na bago, maluwag at mas mabilis," Villar said.

An additional feature implemented by Villar in this project was the inclusion of bike lanes, discussing the importance of pedestrian infrastructure in roads across the country.

"As part of DPWH, not only is it our main goal to provide vehicular infrastructure, but pedestrian infrastructure as well, especially for those who do not have private vehicles of their own. This is why we aim to incorporate bike lanes in all our projects similar to what we did here in the Pulilan-Baliaug Diversion Road," he said.