Plaridel Bypass Road

Plaridel Bypass Road
FvfBustosBypass9921 22.JPG
The road in Bustos, Bulacan
Route information
Maintained by Department of Public Works and Highways
Length24.61 km[1][2] (15.29 mi)
Existed2012–present
Major junctions
North end AH 26 (N1) (Pan-Philippine Highway) in San Rafael
Major intersections
South end AH 26 (E1) (North Luzon Expressway) in Guiguinto
Location
CountryPhilippines
ProvincesBulacan
Towns
Highway system
  • Roads in the Philippines
← N243→ N301

Plaridel Bypass Road is a 24.61-kilometer (15.29 mi) national secondary road in the province of Bulacan, Philippines. Traversing agricultural lands, it bypasses the town propers of Plaridel (after which it is named), Pulilan, Baliwag, and San Rafael and serves as an alternative route to the Pan-Philippine Highway.[1]

The entire road is designated as National Route 247 (N247) of the Philippine highway network.[3]

Route description

From the south, the two- to four-lane bypass road starts at Balagtas Exit of North Luzon Expressway in Barangay Borol, Balagtas. It turns north, bypassing the town propers of Plaridel, Pulilan, Baliwag, and San Rafael; it also traverses the town of Bustos. It ends at its intersection with Pan-Philippine Highway in Barangay Maasim, San Rafael.

History

Plaridel Bypass Road under construction in San Rafael, 2017

The first phase of the road project, a 14-kilometer segment between NLEX and Plaridel, was opened in March 2012 and funded through Japan's official development assistance.[4]

During the administration of President Benigno Aquino III, the road was initially planned to be a toll road named Plaridel Bypass Toll Road.[5] However, it was revised to become an untolled road, which was later known as the Plaridel–San Rafael Bypass Road Project.[6]

Construction of the road began in 2016, funded by a loan agreement with the Japan International Cooperation Agency. On April 30, 2018, Arterial Road Bypass Project Phase II was inaugurated.[7] followed by the 10-kilometer (6.2 mi) Phase 2 section from Balagtas to Bustos on May 5.[8]

In March 2021, Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar inaugurated the widened Angat Bridge, Luzon’s longest river bridge across Angat River in Bustos, Bulacan.[9]

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. with Antonio Lagdameo Jr., Japanese Ambassador Kazuhiko Kashikawa, and Manuel Bonoan inaugurated the Arterial Road Bypass Project Phase III (Contract Package 4) on October 9, 2023.[10] The road, with a cost of ₱5.26 billion, has been widened from two lanes to four.[11] It includes the 318-meter (1,043 ft) second San Rafael Flyover, while the 210-meter (690 ft) first Bustos Flyover was opened on July 12, 2022).

Construction of the 4-lane third ₱227 million 561-meter Guiguinto Flyover at Barangay Tiaong was finished in August 2024.[11] The ceremonial topping out and Catholic blessing-inauguration by Bulacan LGU official were held on April 25 and August 14, respectively. The installation of the Arterial Road Bypass Project, Phase III historical marker dated August 30, 2024 was held also on August 14. Its 283.10 meters main Bridge has approaches of 138.66 and 139.38 meters with a concrete jersey barrier.[12][13] In October 2024, DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan officially inaugurated and opened the Flyover No. 1, which is part of the newly widened 12.5-kilometer road section under contract packages (CP) 1 and 2 of the Arterial Road Bypass Project Phase 3.[14]

Intersections

The entire route is located in Bulacan. Intersections are numbered by kilometer posts, with Rizal Park in Manila designated as kilometer zero. 

City/Municipalitykm[15]miDestinationsNotes
Guiguinto3421 E1 (NLEX Balagtas Exit) – Pampanga, Manila, Bocaue, MarilaoSouthern terminus.
Tiaong Barangay Road — Balagtas, PandiAccessible via Tiaong Flyover service road.
Mercado Street
Cut-Cut–Daungan Road
Guiguinto – Plaridel boundaryGuiguinto Diversion Road — Baliwag, Gapan, Cabanatuan, MalolosAccess to AH 26 (N1) (Maharlika Highway) near E1 (NLEX Santa Rita Exit). Under construction.
Plaridel3824Plaridel Bypass Access Road — Plaridel town proper
3924Bulihan Provincial Road
Plaridel – Bustos boundary4125Pandi–Bustos Road — PandiBrgy. Camachilihan crossing.
BustosPandi–Bustos RoadBrgy. Malamig crossing.
4729Gen. Alejo G. Santos Highway — Norzagaray, Angat, Santa Maria, DRTAlso known as the Plaridel–Bustos–Angat–Norzagaray–Santa Maria Highway. Crossing accessible via Bustos Flyover service road.
San RafaelKalsadang Bago — San Rafael, BaliwagAccessible via San Rafael Flyover service road.
Mayor Francisco Viola Sr. Highway — DRT, Angat, Baliwag
San Roque Barangay Road
Mabalas-balas Provincial Road
San Rafael–San Ildefonso Bypass Road — San IldefonsoUnder construction.[16]
AH 26 (N1) (Maharlika Highway) – Cagayan Valley, Cabanatuan, GapanNorthern terminus.
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

References

  1. ^ a b "PLARIDEL BY-PASS ROAD (ARTERIAL ROAD BYPASS PROJECT, PHASE II)". Department of Public Works and Highways. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
  2. ^ "Environmental Impact Statement (Updated) Plaridel Bypass Road Project, Arterial Road Bypass Project, Phase III" (PDF). Japan International Cooperation Agency. August 2017. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
  3. ^ "Road and Bridge Inventory". Department of Public Works and Highways. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
  4. ^ "DPWH Chief opens Plaridel By-Pass Road linked to NLEX New Balagtas interchange". Official Gazette. March 21, 2012. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
  5. ^ "Plaridel Bypass Toll Road". Public-Private Partnership Center. October 13, 2014. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
  6. ^ "Aerial Inspection of Plaridel-San Rafael Bypass Road Project". Radio Television Malacañang. February 24, 2016. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
  7. ^ Reyes-Estrope, Carmela (May 3, 2018). "Plaridel Bypass Road open to Bulacan traffic in two weeks". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
  8. ^ Reyes-Estrope, Carmela (May 3, 2018). "Bustos, Bulacan section of Plaridel Bypass Road opens on May 5". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
  9. ^ "DPWH opens widened Angat Bridge along Arterial Bypass Road in Bulacan". SunStar. July 10, 2021. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
  10. ^ Maralit, Kristina (February 13, 2024). "Widened part of Plaridel Bypass opened". The Manila Times. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
  11. ^ a b "PBBM admin inaugurates Arterial Road Bypass Project, further reducing travel time between two towns in Bulacan". Presidential Communications Group. October 9, 2023. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
  12. ^ Iglesias, Myla (May 2, 2024). "Plaridel bypass on track to open by June". Malaya (newspaper). Retrieved August 5, 2024.
  13. ^ "Arterial Road Bypass in Bulacan reaches milestone with ceremonial topping off". People's Journal. April 27, 2024. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
  14. ^ Balbin, Manny (October 10, 2024). "New flyover to reduce traffic in Bulacan tow". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved October 11, 2024.
  15. ^ "Road and Bridge Inventory". www.dpwh.gov.ph. Retrieved September 22, 2024.
  16. ^ "Consulting Services for the Feasibility Study of Several Roads" (PDF). Department of Public Works and Highways. September 22, 2024. Retrieved September 22, 2024.