The new Kalibo Bridge III, the longest bridge in Western Visayas, was opened this week and is expected to cut travel time of tourists going to the world-famous Boracay Island.
The two-lane 770-meter Kalibo Bridge located on the boundaries of Barangay Tigayon, Kalibo and Barangay Mina, Lezo in Aklan opened on January 16, 2020.
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the provincial government said the newly opened roadway also aims to expedite delivering of goods and basic commodities to and from the capital town of Kalibo.
“Around 6,000 motorists, residents and tourists are anticipated to feel the benefits of its completion,” said by DPWH Secretary Mark Villar.
The Kalibo Bridge is part of the 15.81-kilometer Kalibo Circumferential Road that when completed will reduce the travel time from Kalibo to Boracay Island in Malay, Aklan from the current 90 minutes to 45 minutes.
The Kalibo Bridge, that provides an alternate route from Aklan West Road and a direct link to Kalibo Airport, will reduce travel time from Kalibo City to Caticlan from 60 minutes to 45 minutes.
The Php 500-million bridge project, which started in 2013, involves construction of 22 spans of bored pile foundation, slope protection works, and concreting of three (3) kilometers of road.
Aklan Govenor Florencio Miraflores said, “We were looking then of ways of how we could cut travel time to tourists bound to Boracay.”
Netizens responded enthusiastically to the opening of the bridge. Among them is Excel Gallardo de Pedro who commented on the DPWH social media announcement, saying, “wow uwi na ako Aklan! Sarap mag-long drive!” and Fred Derequito who said, “when there’s a will, there’s a way! Forward Philippines!”
Aklan is also home to world-famous Ati-Atihan Festival which ends January 19, 2020.
Boracay Island is famous worldwide for its beaches with powdery white sand and has been picked as the World’s Top Island and Best Travel Destination by global travel sites.
Faster travel has also been made possible in Cavite and Laguna with the opening of the CALAX Sta. Rosa-Tagaytay expressway while traffic congestion in Metro Manila is also expected to be alleviated with the upcoming March 2020 opening of the Skyway Stage 3 or the SLEX-NLEX connector road.
SEND cheers to the people of Aklan and travelers to Boracay Island for the longest bridge that reduces travel time!
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