DPWH develops major intersections along Manila North Road

A total of nine intersections along Manila North Road between towns of Capas and San Manuel in Tarlac are undergoing improvement works coupled with the appropriate traffic management measures to decongest traffic along this heavily-travelled arterial road.

Under the traffic management component of the widening and improvement of Manila North Road, a multiyear program of the Department of Public Works and Highways, seven of these nine intersections will be provided with traffic signals and set to be completed before end of July this year.

The traffic signal design will be fully-actuated with vehicle and pedestrian sensors capable of adjusting green time in accordance with the real traffic demand.

DPWH has also adopted the use of ecofriendly and energy-efficient LED [light emitting diode]-based traffic signal lanterns in the traffic signalization project for Manila North Road.

Secretary Rogelio L. Singson said that the road capacity improvement and traffic management measures along Manila North Road will reduce travel time and increase travel speed.

The toll-free highway that connects Metro Manila to Central and Northern Luzon is also promoted by the national government as a heritage highway leading to tourist spot destinations of the north, added Singson.

According to Project Director Remedios G. Belleza of the DPWH Traffic Engineering and Management-Project Management Office, improvement of the Capas to San Manuel segment of the Manila North Road commonly known to motorists as MacArthur Highway was awarded to Northern Builders at a contract cost of P86 Million.

Since the project contract was started in November 2011, it has already posted more than 30 percent accomplishment.

The contract also includes geometric improvement works at intersection, supply and installation of road signs and pavement markings, maintenance work for newly-installed traffic signal equipment/flasher, and provision of spare parts and consumables.

In CY 2011, traffic signalization and ancillary works including geometric improvement works at 14 intersections between Meycauayan, Bulacan to Mabalacat, Pampanga segment of the historic MacArthur Highway were also completed. (gov.ph)