SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union — Motorists in La Union can expect faster travel times with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) targeting the completion of the Bauang-San Fernando-San Juan bypass road in 2027 or even sooner.
DPWH Region 1 Director Ronnel Tan shared during the “Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas” that the project’s pace hinges on budget allocation, with additional funding already requested for 2025.
Spanning 22.19 kilometers, the bypass road will significantly reduce traffic congestion on Manila North Road traversing Bauang, San Fernando City, and San Juan.
Travel time between Bauang and San Juan is expected to drop from one hour to just 30 minutes upon completion.
Broken down by sections, the Bauang section with a length of 7.798 kilometers will see a travel time reduction from 13 minutes to nine minutes, while the San Fernando-San Juan section with a length of 14.396 kilometers will go from 47 minutes to 21 minutes.
Currently, the project is 73.54 percent complete based on the released budget, translating to 47.94 percent based on the total project cost of P5.07 billion.
Director Tan assures that construction will resume upon budget release.
He added that the partially completed sections, particularly the San Fernando-San Juan portion leading to Bagulin and San Gabriel, are already operational, offering motorists a taste of the improved travel experience.
This four-lane bypass road promises to boost mobility of goods and services by connecting to major roads like Bauang-Baguio Road, San Fernando-Bagulin Road (leading to Kapangan, Benguet), and San Juan-San Gabriel Road (also leading to Kapangan, Benguet).
Residents are already experiencing the benefits.
Corazon Bermudez, a 73-year-old resident from San Juan, shared that travel times between San Fernando City and San Juan have noticeably decreased.
“Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas” is a nationwide forum organized by the Presidential Communications Office through regional Philippine Information Agency offices.
It aims to promote transparency and public engagement by featuring different government departments across various media platforms.
This initiative aligns with the administration’s “Bagong Pilipinas” agenda, highlighting government projects and achievements in action. (PIA Region 1)
