The construction of the 160-kilometer Quezon-Bicol Expressway (QBEx) project is scheduled to start this year following the recent completion of feasibility study, according to Mark Villar, secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
QBEx will significantly reduce travel time between Manila and the Bicol Region.
The project will be funded by government through the General Appropriations Act but Villar did not disclose the project cost.
The QBEx project will run from Pagbilao, Quezon to the existing Maharlika highway in San Fernando, Camarines Sur.
Once completed, QBEx will be a shorter and faster alternative for travellers from Quezon and Bicol provinces to the congested Maharlika highway which is more than 200 kms.
Other DPWH projects whose feasibility studies are being crafted are the Central Luzon Link Expressway, the Davao-Digos expressway, the North Luzon Expressway East Phase II, the Metro Cebu expressway, Davao Bypass and the Mindoro Batangas super bridge (floating bridge).
Meanwhile, travelling from Koronadal City, South Cotabato to General Santos City will soon be easier with the multi-million peso road-widening projects set to be completed this year by the DPWH.
According to DPWH Regional Office XII director Basir Ibrahim, various infrastructure projects are currently under development to address the problem of vehicular traffic in the region.
“To decongest roads, specifically in this area, a P100-million road widening from the present four lanes to a six lanes of Marbel-Makar road traversing Koronadal City to General Santos City is (being constructed) with target completion of April 2020,” Ibrahim said in a statement.
Three bridges are also included in DPWH South Cotabato’ s widening projects namely: the P19.4- million Bulok Bridge near the famous landmark Marbel Ball set for completion this month; the P80-million Palian Twin Bridge in Barangay Palian to be completed on March 2020, and the P10-million Saravia Bridge in Barangay Saravia completed in December 2019.
“Wider roads and bridges will not only provide more convenience to the travelling public but also faster delivery of local goods in the area,” said Ibrahim.
