PORAC -- The initiative of turning the west lateral portion of the FVR Megadike in this town as an alternative route will now be a reality as a P500-million fund had been appropriated for the project.
The P500-million fund was made possible through the effort of former President now second district Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, said Mayor Condralito dela Cruz, who announced the new development before transport leaders of the town on Monday, January 8.
It could be recalled that former Pampanga board member Mike Tapang initially proposed the construction of a toll road on the west lateral portion of the FVR Megadike. But Dela Cruz said the project is not a toll road but a regular two-lane road for trucks.
The dike road will traverse some 10 kilometers in Porac, two kilometers in Sta. Rita town and four kilometers in Bacolor.
The project aims to make the dike road an alternative route for commercial vehicles, particularly quarry trucks and private vehicles that traverse the area going to Manila.
The route is also seen to connect the third district of Pampanga with the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx) through the Porac Interchange in Barangay Cangatba in Porac.
Dela Cruz said the completion of the project will greatly decongest the Porac-Angeles Road of quarry trucks, particularly trucks that converge along the eastern barangays of Manibaug, Santa Cruz, Manibaug Libutad and Mancatian.
The road will also decongest the Friendship Highway in Angeles City, as the dike road will give direct access to the Jose Abad Santos Avenue were the trucks access vital delivery routes going to Manila and Zambales.
Dela Cruz said the starting point of the 16-kilometer road is in Cangatba village, Porac, and can then be connected to the SCTEx.
This is also a way to put an end to the illegal pass-way fees being collected from sand haulers passing areas in Pampanga and Angeles City, he added.
Vice Mayor Dexter David told transport leaders that heavy equipment are already along the dike area for the construction of the said project.
