Finally, new Dawel-Lucao road is open to traffic
BIG BOON FOR DAGUPAN
FINALLY, the Dawel-Pantal-Lucao Road is open.
Mayor Alipio Fernandez Jr., who led a simple ceremony on Friday for the “soft opening” of the highway, said this marks a new hope for Dagupan.
Also present during the opening event were Vice Mayor Belen Fernandez, Public Works and Highways Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. and Japanese Ambassador Makoto Katsura.
A grand inauguration, set to be attended by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and former Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr., is being scheduled sometime in June.
Both Arroyo and De Venecia, who were instrumental in making the project possible, were invited for last Friday’s inauguration but both had previously set engagements.
Mayor Fernandez said the project prepares Dagupan to become the leading economic power in the north because the new road opens new growth corridors which investors can take advantage of.
He thanked Arroyo for making Dagupan a priority of her Urgent Bridges Construction Project for Rural Development, Package III.
P934 million or 36% per cent of the P2.6 billion allocated to the bridge program was released to Dagupan by the Japan Bank for International Cooperation for the construction of the Pantal Bridge.
Fernandez also acknowledged and thanked De Venecia for his “initiative, leadership and tenacity” that led to the realization of a long vision to provide another diversion road for Dagupan.
De Venecia was also instrumental in initiating and funding the Jose R. de Venecia Highway, completed in 1996, connecting Dagupan and Calasiao.
Vice Mayor Fernandez, for her part, said the Dawel-Pantal-Lucap Road is a vision accomplished, adding that the dream to connect two emerging business districts-the Bonuan area and the Tapuac-Lucao area-has been fulfilled.
The Pantal Bridge measuring 380 meters with two lanes, consists of 7-span continuous steel two-1 girder with composite concrete deck slab while the road component-built on former swamps, fishponds and river— has a net length of 4.157 kilometers, said Sec. Ebdane.
She said the new Pantal Bridge had positioned barangay Pantal and Poblacion Oeste as gateways to the new growth corridors that will soon open.
The project puts the island barangays of Calmay, Lomboy, Carael and Pugaro within arm’s length to eco-tourism opportunities, the vice mayor said.
“Today’s occasion ably demonstrates that for as long as we share one vision and speak with one voice, no amount of political crosswinds can alter our destiny,” she said.—LM
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