Road networks in 3 I.Norte towns

SOLSONA, Ilocos Norte, Jan. 3 — A former dirt road in this eastern town is now a stretch of clean, paved road, spanning more than nine kilometers leading to the neighboring province of Apayao.

The road upgrade is part of the Department of Public Works and Highways’ rehabilitation project of national roads in the towns of San Nicolas, Dingras and Solsona.
Veniedo Reyes, DPWH regional director, said the rehabilitation works will reduce travel time of motorists passing to and from the three towns as they enter or leave Ilocos Norte’s capital city of Laoag.

Reyes said the road project is also meant to improve the lives of remote communities and farming households in those towns.

The project, costing more than P117.6 million, began in August last year and is expected to be finished in one year or in August this year.

The road work is under the DPWH’ Pavement Management System/Highway Development and Management-4 (HDM-4) of national arterial roads covering the San Nicolas-Dingras-Solsona roads.

Included in the works was the construction of the Portland Cement Concrete Pavement (PCCP) of the carriageway and shoulder with appropriate slope protection and stone line canal, including parapet wall along the Solsona section.

Rehabilitation of the San Nicolas and Dingras sections includes concreting of shoulder, asphalt overlay and concrete paving of shoulder. (ANL/CCA-PIA 1 Ilocos Norte)