TPLEX opens 10-km stretch from Binalonan to Pozorrubio

MANILA, Philippines — The segment of the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEX) covering Binalonan to Pozorrubio opened to motorists yesterday after the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) issued the toll operation permit to San Miguel Corp. unit Private Infrastructure Development Corp. (PIDC).

The DOTr, in a statement yesterday, said the toll operation permit was granted on Nov.29.

The permit was issued following a joint inspection conducted by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), TRB technical staff and representatives of PIDC.

During the inspection, PIDC said the segment is “substantially complete and is safe to be operated commercially.”

TPLEX Segment 7, Section 3A-2 covers Binalonan to Pozorrubio in Pangasinan.

The segment, which is approximately 10.1-kilometers, is the second to the last portion of the TPLEX project that would be constructed by PIDC.

Segment 7, Section 3A-1 of TPLEX covering Urdaneta City until Binalonan, officially opened in July last year.

The last segment or Section 3B covers Pozorrubio in Pangasinan to Rosario, La Union.

It is expected to be completed by June 2019, based on the timetable posted on the DPWH website.

The completion of the TPLEX is expected to ease and improve traffic in the northern part of the country.