The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is accelerating civil works of the 4.80-kilometer road improvement project that will not only decongest traffic but will also protect a coastal area in Virac, Catanduanes.
In his report to DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan, DPWH Region 5 Director Virgilio Eduarte said that the ongoing project involves the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Virac’s Imelda Boulevard with four bridges, seawall, drainage and slope protection works.
The road is also envisioned to have a separated bike lane to promote active transport beneficial to physical health and sidewalk and street lights for road safety.
The road is also envisioned to have a separated bike lane to promote active transport beneficial to physical health and sidewalk and street lights for road safety.
“Civil works on the boulevard are now 78.8 percent accomplished based on a total project cost of P1.59 Billion. Already completed is a total of 3.55 kilometers of road rehabilitation, reconstruction, and bridge construction while 654 meters of road concreting is still ongoing. However, 1.25-kilometer road concreting with seawall and bridge construction still remains to be funded,” Eduarte explained.
DPWH has so far allocated from CY 2017 to CY 2022 a total of P1.32 Billion for the rehabilitation of Imelda Boulevard and a balance of P266.3 Million will be needed to cover remaining civil works to complete the entire project.
When fully-completed, Imelda Boulevard will serve an all-weather alternative route to bypass the busy town proper of Virac. Its seawall component will be able to protect the coastal area from storm surges.
“The road is expected to become a tourist destination in the province.”
“The road is expected to become a tourist destination in the province, offering breathtaking scenery of the coast to motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians,” the public works official added.
