CONSTRUCTION of a concrete bridge that will span the Pantal river here costing P800 million will begin by mid-March this year, according to the Department of Public Works and Highways.

DPWH Regional Director Fidel Ginez said construction of the newest bridge in Dagupan will be undertaken by the Toyo Construction of Japan which won the bidding for the project.

Up for completion in 18 months, the bridge is 780 lineal meters long at three lanes and is funded thru a loan obtained by the Philippine government from the Japan Bank for International Cooperation.

The bridge will link both ends of the 4.8 kilometer new diversion road being built by the DPWH from the Countrywide Development Assistance Fund of House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr., congressman of the fourth district of Pangasinan.

The diversion road starts from sitio Dawel in barangay Pantal to Pantal proper, then on through barangay Lucao, passing at the back of CSI the City Mall before finally linkling up with the De Venecia highway that bisects Dagupan and Calasiao.

De Venecia’s project also includes the construction of two smaller bridges in sitio Guebang in barangay Pantal, across small waterways exiting to the Dawel river.

When completed, the diversion road, and its three bridges in-between will provide an alternate route from La Union, San Fabian and Bonuan, Dagupan City to Lingayen, thus eliminating the daily traffic snarls in the clogged downtown area of the city.

De Venecia is optimistic that once the new diversion road is completed, the traffic problem that is hampering the growth of Dagupan will gradually ease.