CLARK FREEPORT--The Clark Development Corporation (CDC) has started the construction of the P34.4 million transport depot at the Freeport's main gate.
The public utility vehicle terminal, which is located at the back of SM City Clark, is expected to provide an efficient public transport facility and ease traffic congestion at the main entrance of Clark.
Engineer Teresito Tiotuyco, Assistant Vice President for Technical Services, said the project will be directly linked to the soon-to-be-completed Clark-Mabalacat-Angeles Road (CMAR) along the Freeport's east perimeter road.
The depot will host passenger jeepneys, taxis, and buses that will serve thousands of commuters around the Freeport.
The project, expected to be completed before the end of the year, has 342 parking slots for jeepneys and taxis, and 18 slots for buses. Stalls will be leased out for commercial ventures.
Tiotuyco said the depot has a total land area of more than 4,100 square meters and could be vertically expanded once the volume of public transport increased.
"This project, along with other road improvements in Clark, would be vital in keeping order and traffic flow in and around Clark. A little inconvenience may be experienced by some during construction for which we apologize but the end result would be beneficial to majority," Tiotuyco said.
In order to minimize traffic in and around the Freeport, CDC is also pursuing various road projects, the official added.
The construction of a vital bridge along the P176-million CMAR, which was delayed for few weeks, is now being rushed to meet its completion deadline by October.
The six-kilometer, double lane road was constructed as part of CDC's commitment to help decongest traffic in the cities of Angeles and Mabalacat.
The road connects the existing terminal in Mabalacat Gate area to the transport depot at the SM area.
The CDC will also open a new side at the MA Roxas Highway leading to the Clarkview area along Don Juico St. in Angeles City.
The new gate is seen to lessen vehicular traffic at the Maingate and Friendship Gates of this Freeport.
CDC received requests †to help fund the construction and improvement of some peripheral roads in Barangay Malabanias, Angeles City that could help in the flow of traffic in communities near Clark.
The state-run agency is also looking at ways to help ease traffic at a busy intersection along MacArthur Highway that connects the Mabalacat Gate to the Sta. Ines entry and exit points of the NLEX.
The road projects are being implemented to help prepare Clark in hosting some activities when Philippines host the 50th†anniversary of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2017.