THE Tarlac City Southwest Diversion Road, which will connect Tarlac City and New Clark City, will soon be completed by 2022, according to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
The DPWH said the road will provide motorists “with a smooth travel, safer roads, and a quicker trip to and from Tarlac City, another diversion road is being constructed by the Tarlac 1st District Engineering Office that will link Tarlac Province’s capital to New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac, bypassing the 24.1-kilometer Manila North Road.”
The project is currently on its second phase of the multi-year project, the road concreting, widening and rehabilitation of the Tarlac City Southwest Diversion Road began in 2020 and is expected to open and in full operation in 2022, according to the DPWH.
“The existing unpaved Tibag-Armenia via Tibagan Balanti Diversion Road is currently being improved to serve as an alternate road to New Clark City, and a shorter way to access Tarlac City to the adjacent provinces instead of driving via the Manila North Road. The bypass road starts at the Tarlac City-San Jose via Tibag-Burgos Road and ends at the Capas-San Jose-Mayantoc-Malacampa Road,” Tarlac 1st District Engineer Erelina B. Santos explained.
The project’s first phase, funded under General Appropriations Act of 2020 is already complete. The construction included the widening of the 6.62-kilometer road, concreting of another 6.60 kilometers, and the rehabilitation of the 2.95-kilometer road section. Additionally, a 40-linear meter bridge will also be constructed at Sta. 3+512 to Sta. 3+552 for a more seamless travel.
“Currently our office is working on the diversion road’s second phase, and as of date, we have completed at least 30 percent of the project based on its total cost,” Santos said.