CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga – The second phase of the new diversion road project that will connect Tarlac City to New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac is now underway.

Tarlac 1st District Engineer Erelina B. Santos said on Monday the diversion road that will bypass the 24.1-kilometer Manila North Road would provide motorists with a smooth, safer and quicker travel to and from Tarlac City.

She said the road concreting, widening and rehabilitation of the Tarlac City Southwest Diversion Road began in 2020 and is expected to be completed in 2022.

“The existing unpaved Tibag-Armenia via Tibagan Balanti Diversion Road is currently being improved to serve as an alternate road to New Clark City, and a shorter way to access Tarlac City to the adjacent provinces instead of driving via the Manila North Road. The bypass road starts at the Tarlac City-San Jose via Tibag-Burgos Road and ends at the Capas-San Jose-Mayantoc-Malacampa Road,” she said in an official social media post.

Santos said the project’s first phase, funded under the General Appropriations Act of 2020, is already complete.

The construction included the widening of the 6.62-kilometer road, concreting of another 6.60 kilometers, and the rehabilitation of a 2.95-kilometer road section. Additionally, a 40-linear meter bridge will be constructed for a more seamless travel.

“Currently, our office is working on the diversion road’s second phase, and as of date, we have completed at least 30 percent of the project based on its total cost,” Santos noted. (PNA)