TPLEx Plans Extension for a Faster Trip to La Union Surf Town
If the proposed Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEx) extension, which will run from Rosario to San Juan, La Union has been approved, travel time from the bustling city of Metro Manila to the beach resorts in San Juan, La Union will be just an hour and a half shorter.
So far, it takes a two-hour drive from Balintawak, Quezon City to reach the TPLEx exit in Pozorrubio, Pangasinan, and another two-hour drive from Pozorrubio to San Juan through Manila North Road.
Mark Gabriel Dumol, president of Private Infra Dev. Corp., the company which operates TPLEx confirmed that the company had proposed to build the 54-kilometer stretch TPLEx extension to the surf town.
In fact, the company had already surveyed the area and had found out that the extension is technically possible according to Dumol.
According to Nestor Rillon, Ilocos regional director of the National Economic and Development Authority claimed that the proposed TPLEx extension project was a project covered by the Luzon special development framework.
During a news briefing following a regional development council meeting, Rillon said:
“It’s an inter-regional big ticket project that will be approved at the national level. It’s going to happen but let’s wait for the details,”
He also anticipates that the extension of TPLEx to La Union could mean more visitors to the north and it will be good for the country’s tourism.
The construction of TPLEx started in 2010. It is actually an 88.85-km. expressway which runs from Tarlac City to Rosario, La Union, and at present, 78.39 km from Tarlac City to Porzorrubio have been already competed.
According to the Department of Public Works and Highways, the last section of TPLEx, which is a 10.92 km long running from the said town to Rosario is expected to be completed by June, 2019.
Dumol claimed that the towns and cities in Tarlac, Pangasinan and La Union crossed by TPLEx have already benefited from additional incomes and jobs as well as easier access to their tourism spots.
He further cited that the number of pilgrims visiting the Shrine of the Holy Face in the small town of Nampicuan in Nueva Ecija have significantly increased by five times since the area could now be easily accessed through the Anao exit in Tarlac.
Also, the number of tourists visiting the Minor Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary of Manaoag in Manaoag, Pangasinan has tripled, helping the hotel and restaurant industry in town to prosper.