THE Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) – Nueva Ecija 2nd District Engineering Office (DEO) recently completed the concreting of a 557.7-meter access road that links the Emilio Vergara Highway to the Cabanatuan City Circumferential Road, which in turn connects to the Maharlika Highway and leads to the city’s central transport terminal and commercial centers.
Previously unpaved and in poor condition, the road had long caused inconvenience to motorists using it as a shortcut between major routes, as its dirt surface often became impassable during the rainy season, disrupting daily commutes and local transport flow.
District Engineer Robert Jay Panaligan said the completed project consisted of two components: rehabilitation of the existing concreted portion and full construction of the remaining segment.
“Prior to the enhancement, only 73.5 meters of the road was concreted, while the rest remained unpaved, making it difficult to traverse—especially when heavy rains turned the surface muddy, unstable, and riddled with deep potholes,” he noted.
Panaligan added that the completed road is a 12.20-meter-wide four-lane carriageway, complemented by a 354-meter drainage system using 910-mm diameter reinforced concrete pipe culverts and 45 manholes to facilitate stormwater flow and maintenance access.
Meanwhile, OIC-Assistant District Engineer Leonora Cruz emphasized the project’s importance to the local transport network.
“This road project brings real convenience to residents, especially those who rely on this route for daily travel,” Cruz said.
Implemented under the Sustainable Infrastructure Projects Alleviating Gaps (SIPAG) program, the P19.29-million project is expected to ease congestion along nearby thoroughfares by providing a faster route for residents and motorists traveling between key areas in Cabanatuan City.
Editor’s Note: This article has been sourced from the DPWH Region Office III Facebook Page.
