URDANETA CITY,– The widening of a portion of the Maharlika Road in this city is now almost complete but for a lone property owner who is asking for a higher value for his property that would be affected before he gives in.

This was disclosed by Mayor Amadeo Perez Jr. who said the Department of Public Works and Highways is resolving the issue as the property is the only remaining block to the construction.

The widening of an 800-meter stretch of the Maharlika Highway in the town proper is a pet project of Rep. Mark Cojuangco of the fifth district of Pangasinan.

It was intended to do away with the daily bumper-to-bumper traffic, along the highway caused by vehicles moving from north to south and vice versa.

The city government asked the property owners to set back their buildings by a few meters so the original width of the highway would be restored.

Perez said the property owner asking for higher value of his land owns the lot on the right side of the newly built bridge leading to the town of Binalonan.

“I hope the DPWH can iron out this problem so the highway widening can be finally completed,” Perez said. (PNA)