CITY OF BALANGA, Bataan, December 18 (PIA) – An attempt to expand the perilous Zigzag Road in Mariveles town elicited the acclaim of business and local sectors in the province as Mayor Jesse Concepcion bared his plans to put an end to 70 years of standstill in the much-awaited construction. AFTER 70 YEARS. Mariveles Mayor Jesse Concepcion (inset) discusses his plan of expanding the perilous Zigzag Road which has never been widened in 70 years and is a witness to countless accidents. In this photo from panoramio.com, the mountainous road stretches to six kilometers from Brgy. Alas-asin to Brgy. Maligaya. (Jose Mari M. Garcia/PIA 3, Bataan)
Repairs on the six-kilometer mountainous road from Barangay Alas-asin to Brgy. Maligaya have been a perennial remedy but the actual expansion of the road that witnessed countless accidents has never materialized, said Concepcion.
“After World War II, that road has always been that way. It is always rehabilitated but the attempt to expand it just emerges now,” said Concepcion in an interview.
This developed as the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) disclosed recently that P50 million has been allocated for the widening to accommodate a bigger volume of cargo trucks going to the Freeport Area of Bataan (FAB), an industrial complex in Mariveles that houses international and local companies.
DPWH-Bataan 2nd Engineering District Engineer Medel Chua said the plan widening came in the wake of requests from FAB authorities, led by its chairman Deo Custodio, Bataan Governor Enrique Garcia, Jr., businessmen and the residents.
“My idea is two lanes for ascending and one for descending. The side of the mountain will be chomped. The progress is inevitable because of the developments in FAB. The volume of the vehicles will really go up. Hopefully next year, we have three lanes,” said Concepcion.
For a start, the sharp curves of the Zigzag Road are currently being cemented to provide bigger space for vehicles.
Apparently, businessmen and local employees expressed elation over the planned road widening which will not only benefit the locators in FAB but also cut off the fear of passengers.
“Before, it is really frightening to pass the road. The plan is good as it lessens the accidents. The fear will be taken away from the passengers,” said Joseph Abelido, teacher-in-charge of Old Alion Elementary School in Brgy. Alion.
FAB Corporate Affairs Department head Francis Initorio said this “welcome development” will answer the enhancement of accessibility of the locators in the zone as transportation of goods will be “much easier.” (JMG/PIA 3, Bataan) PLAN FOR SAFETY AND BUSINESS. Mariveles Mayor Jesse Concepcion reviews the plan on the widening of the Zigzag Road which the DPWH allotted P50 million to accommodate a bigger volume of cargo trucks going to the Freeport Area of Bataan. (Jose Mari M. Garcia/PIA 3, Bataan)
Repairs on the six-kilometer mountainous road from Barangay Alas-asin to Brgy. Maligaya have been a perennial remedy but the actual expansion of the road that witnessed countless accidents has never materialized, said Concepcion.
“After World War II, that road has always been that way. It is always rehabilitated but the attempt to expand it just emerges now,” said Concepcion in an interview.
This developed as the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) disclosed recently that P50 million has been allocated for the widening to accommodate a bigger volume of cargo trucks going to the Freeport Area of Bataan (FAB), an industrial complex in Mariveles that houses international and local companies.
DPWH-Bataan 2nd Engineering District Engineer Medel Chua said the plan widening came in the wake of requests from FAB authorities, led by its chairman Deo Custodio, Bataan Governor Enrique Garcia, Jr., businessmen and the residents.
“My idea is two lanes for ascending and one for descending. The side of the mountain will be chomped. The progress is inevitable because of the developments in FAB. The volume of the vehicles will really go up. Hopefully next year, we have three lanes,” said Concepcion.
For a start, the sharp curves of the Zigzag Road are currently being cemented to provide bigger space for vehicles.
Apparently, businessmen and local employees expressed elation over the planned road widening which will not only benefit the locators in FAB but also cut off the fear of passengers.
“Before, it is really frightening to pass the road. The plan is good as it lessens the accidents. The fear will be taken away from the passengers,” said Joseph Abelido, teacher-in-charge of Old Alion Elementary School in Brgy. Alion.
FAB Corporate Affairs Department head Francis Initorio said this “welcome development” will answer the enhancement of accessibility of the locators in the zone as transportation of goods will be “much easier.” (JMG/PIA 3, Bataan) PLAN FOR SAFETY AND BUSINESS. Mariveles Mayor Jesse Concepcion reviews the plan on the widening of the Zigzag Road which the DPWH allotted P50 million to accommodate a bigger volume of cargo trucks going to the Freeport Area of Bataan. (Jose Mari M. Garcia/PIA 3, Bataan)