LINGAYEN – The flow of traffic in Dagupan City is expected to improve dramatically once the five pedestrian overpasses in different parts of the city’s downtown are constructed.

Second Highway District Engineer Rodolfo Dion said the construction of the first of the five overpasses, all to be sourced from House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr.’s Countrywide Development Fund, will begin next month and will be situated near the Dagupan City National High School.

He said he already received an advice that the Department of Budget and Management is set to release the initial P3 million allotted for the first pedestrian overpass.

Expected to be completed by early February next year, the first pedestrian overpass will serve the student population studying in DCNHS, Lyceum Northwestern University, Ednas School and Dominican School.

The project is now undergoing its pre-construction stage, which includes preparations of plans and work programs before the conduct of a public bidding.

He said his office has already coordinated the implementation of the project with the city government, adding that it was the City Engineering Office that submitted the original plans for DPWH’s review and modification.

Dion said Speaker De Venecia noted that a big number of people, particularly students, are crossing the Dagupan-Binmaley road unprotected so he decided to allot a part of his CDAF for the construction of an overpass in that area.

On the Speaker’s instruction, the construction of the four other pedestrian overpasses will start once the first project is completed.

The other pedestrian overpasses will be situated in front of the West Central School, the intersection of Perez Boulevard, Mayombo road and M.H. del Pilar St., Arellano St. and in front of the City Market Square on A.B. Fernandez Avenue.

Speaker De Venecia committed to build these projects in order to help modernize Dagupan City and bring it closer to Baguio City’s safety level which has already a number of pedestrian overpasses. 

He said Speaker de Venecia also pledged to build a similar pedestrian overpass in Manaoag town which is usually crowded with pilgrims on weekends.

Another overpass is being proposed by De Venecia to be built in Mangaldan, already experiencing a daily gridlock owing to its narrow highway.   

Rep. Amado Espino Jr. of the second district is also reportedly keen on having a pedestrian overpass constructed in Lingayen.

Meanwhile, Dion announced that the asphalt overlay of three major roads in Dagupan City, costing some P29 million, is now almost complete.

These projects were initially criticized by Mayor Benjamin Lim when he noted that the asphalt laid down on top of the concrete roads scoured easily during the floods in July and August. 

Dion said he ordered the first asphalt overlay projects scraped off and had them replaced to ensure that they will last long.  

He said that the contractor, Oriental Construction owned by Alberto Ong, has a five-year warranty on his project and will therefore be liable if the asphalting work scours within the period.

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