The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) 4th Pangasinan District Engineering Office (DEO) resumed the rehabilitation of the 403-meter road on the boundaries of Calasiao town and Dagupan City.

In an interview, resident engineer of the DPWH-Pangasinan DEO 4, Allan Abulencia, said the PHP60-million project was postponed last year due to heavy rains.

A new drainage system on both sides of the road, he said, will be constructed to minimize flooding during the rainy season.

“We will also widen the roads to accommodate more vehicles coming in and out of the city,” he added.

Flooding during rainy season and traffic congestion on rush hours along the area are the most common dilemma of the motorists traveling to Dagupan City from the other parts of central Pangasinan and vice versa.

Meanwhile, one lane of the road was closed to pave way for the construction, specifically from the intersection on Barangay Nalsian in Calasiao, up to the boundary marker in Dagupan City.

Traffic rerouting for the public and private vehicles has been set by both Calasiao and Dagupan City’s Public Order and Safety Offices (POSO).

In a separate interview Wednesday, Dagupan POSO chief Robert Christopher Erfe-Mejia said that based on the coordination meeting with POSO Calasiao last Jan. 17, Dagupan-bound Calasiao public utility jeepneys (PUJs) shall take Parongking Road to Tebeng Road, then right turn to Caranglaan going toward Dagupan City proper.

From Dagupan City to Calasiao, PUJs shall take Perez Boulevard–Mayombo–Caranglaan road in Dagupan City to their destination, he said.

PUJs coming from Sta. Barbara, Bayambang and Malasiqui towns; and mini buses from Bayambang entering Dagupan City shall take Calasiao’s Lasip–San Vicente to Banaoang Road, going to Malued Dagupan City then turn right to Perez Boulevard.

Meanwhile, big buses from Calasiao shall take the old de Venecia highway toward Lucao, Dagupan City going to their destination.

“All other 10-wheeler trucks (non-trailers) may avail of the 9-11 a.m. and 1-3 p.m. window route only,” Erfe-Mejia said.

He also reminded the public to expect heavy traffic, especially along the construction area, and bear with the inconvenience.

The DPWH project is expected to be completed by March 2020. (PNA)