SMC to open Tarlac portion of P24-B TPLEX

MANILA, Philippines - Diversified conglomerate San Miguel Corp. (SMC) is set to open the first phase of the P24-billion Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEX) on Wednesday in time for travelers on All Saint’s Day.

SMC president and chief operating officer Ramon Ang said the project, through Private Infra Dev Corp. (PIDC), is the conglomerate’s first foray into the construction of tollways and is a major milestone in SMC’s infrastructure master plan.

“The opening of TPLEX holds great significance for us because this is the first in a number of major greenfield projects since we began diversifying into new businesses,” he said.

Ang said motorists could expect faster travel time and safety features that are found in many world-class tollways.

The Toll Regulatory Board authorized the issuance of the toll operation permit for the expressway after PIDC completed construction this month.

The first phase – Section 1A – provides a seamless connection to the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) stretching 17 kilometers from Tarlac City to Victoria, then to Gerona, Tarlac.

This portion of the toll road would cut current travel time to Baguio City by as much as 40 minutes.

It is part of the entire 88.6-kilometer TPLEX that is expected to accelerate growth in tourism, trade and agriculture in North Luzon.

From Gerona, TPLEX would have exits in Paniqui and Moncada in Tarlac; Rosales, Urdaneta City, and Pozorrubio in Pangasinan; and Rosario in La Union.

Completion of the section up to Rosales is scheduled in mid-2014, and the section up to La Union, by 2016.

Originally designed as a two-lane road, the TPLEX proponents decided to upgrade it to four to enhance efficiency and road safety and anticipate future growth in traffic volume.

These include a fleet of patrol cars and emergency assistance vehicles that can respond to motorists anywhere along the stretch within 10 minutes; concrete barriers, guardrails, lighting and cameras in all toll plazas, signs, and pavement markings with powdered glass beads for enhanced visibility. Speed sensors will also be deployed to ensure that motorists keep to the 100-kilometer-per-hour limit.