The construction of the L-shaped overpass in La Trinidad, Benguet has already started, according to the Benguet 1st District Engineering Office.
Project Engineer Jupiter Bacaoat said the overpass along the Baguio-Bontoc Road at Km. 5 was given a notice to proceed last June 26.
The project would take 259 calendar days to finish or will be finished by May 11, 2025 by contractor Tsai-Shen Construction.
The overpass is located at the crossroads in Km. 5 specifically at the Petron gasoline station, which will connect to the Municipal Tourism Building that is also undergoing construction. From the Tourism Building, the overpass will extend to the road near Jollibee Km. 5.
“We have already put up the scaffolding of the existing columns, which will then be poured with cement. The fabrication of the steel for the overpass is also ongoing,” Bacaoat said.
The construction of the L-shaped overpass started in 2015 to ease pedestrian and vehicular traffic at the main thoroughfare, however only two columns were put up at the Km. 5 area after the project was halted by the DPWH.
The overpass project worth P24,499,588.77 will have a 2.95-meter width and is simultaneously being constructed with the ongoing road reblocking at the stretch of the Km. 5 to Km. 3, part of the span of the Halsema Highway.
The P127,903,547.61 reblocking includes the removal and replacement of existing concrete pavement from the Stobosa, Km. 3 area to Km. 5 and improvement of drainage system along the various sections. The project would also expand the road section along the Stobosa mural site in Km. 3, which is a common bottleneck area for traffic.
The reblocking will be finished by June 21, 2025 and implemented by Stay Construction.
Due to the road construction, which was started at the middle part of the road, it caused heavy traffic along Km. 3 to Km. 5.
Private vehicles that are bound to Baguio City were advised to take the Lamut-Beckel Road or the Longlong-Tam-awan Road.
Both projects were funded under the fiscal year 2024 regular infrastructure program of the DPWH. – Ofelia C. Empian
