Bike lane construction on bypass road remains suspended

LAOAG Councilor James Alcid defends his measure requesting the removal of plant boxes and overlay pavement which has effectively suspended the construction of a bike lane along the bypass road. (Inset) The suspended construction of a bike lane along the bypass road in Laoag City. (Doms dela Cruz)

By Dominic B. dela Cruz (Staff Reporter)

Laoag City—The construction of A bike lane along the Rodolfo C.G. Farinas Jr. bypass road remains suspended following another resolution passed by the Sangguniang Panlungsod here.

Laoag councilor James Bryan Alcid requested the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH-Region 1 office) to remove the plant boxes and overlay pavement of the suspended government project launched by the Department of Transportation (DOTr), along the Rodolfo C.G. Fariñas Jr. bypass road, which he said should to be replaced by thermoplastic paint with solar studs and to be painted with cautionary color scheme.

The Philippine Highway Network under the Philippine Highway Act of 1953, also known as Republic Act No. 917, aims to provide an effective highway network in the Philippines through the construction and designation of highway projects throughout the country.

Alcid, who chairs the committee on Public Works, Transportation and Communication, said the bypass road from Brgy. Buyon, Bacarra in the north, all the way south to Brgy. Bengcag, Laoag City is tagged by the DPWH as a “super highway”, and which has effectively decongested the heavy traffic in the city proper of Laoag and nearby San Nicolas town.

He said that the on-going government initiative to install plant boxes and a bicycle lane along the four-lane expressway pose a hazard to motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians and obstructed the view of adjacent property owners which was temporarily halted subsequent to the Sangguniang Panlungsod's investigation and observation.

It was learned that on Sep. 26, 2023, the 12^th Sangguniang Panlungsod passed a resolution requesting the suspension of the on-going government project initiated by the DOTr along the bypass road for bike lane, for further study, as it posts threat to motorists as well as an obstruction to adjacent lot owners.

As developed, a series of meetings and consultations with the Dept. of Public Works and Highways Regional and Central Offices and officials of the Dept. of Transportation (DOTr) Regional Office, it has been decided that the plant boxes and overlay pavements will be removed and replaced with thermoplastic paint equipped with solar studs while cautionary colors such as orange and yellow will be painted on the sidewalk areas to designate them as walk lanes for pedestrians.

The bypass road not only gave motorists a relief from traffic but also gave opportunity to small to medium businessmen to put up establishments along the said highway.

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