Construction of the next phase of the Central Luzon Link Expressway project
would resume in the second quarter of the year.
This was announced by Zambales Governor Hermogenes Ebdane Jr., who chairs
both the Regional Development Council's Sectoral Committee on
Infrastructure Development and the Regional Peace and Order Council in
Central Luzon.
Ebdane said that the right-of-way issues that have delayed the CLLEx were
resolved during a meeting with landowners and farmers affected by the
construction of the tollway.
The former secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways
facilitated the talks with the land owners and farmers.
Also in the talks were officials of the DPWH Unified Project Management
Office-Road Management Cluster 1 and the National Economic and Development
Authority (NEDA), as well as Mayor Cristino M. Joson of Quezon, Nueva
Ecija.
Ebdane said the affected landowners have already dismantled the barricades
they set up along the 35.7-kilometer route.
The CLLEX is part of the Luzon Spine Expressway Network extending from
Ilocos to Bicol, consisting of five contract packages, three of which have
already been completed.
The phase of the CLLEX from Tarlac City to Cabanuatuan has been opened to
motorists. And for now being used by motorists free of toll.
Right of way issues have been the cause of delays in many
government-private sector infrastructure projects. Government has to do a
better job at resolving them before they get to be a problem.