Roman Superhighway
Roman Superhighway | |
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Bataan Provincial Expressway Bataan Provincial Highway | |
Dinalupihan, Bataan | |
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South end | Mariveles, Bataan |
Location | |
Country | Mariveles |
Highway system | |
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The Roman Superhighway or Bataan Provincial Highway, formerly known as the Bataan Provincial Expressway, is a 68-kilometer (42 mi), two- to four-lane major highway that connects the municipality of
Etymology
Roman Superhighway is named after Pablo Roman Sr., the former representative of Bataan who is the acknowledged father of the export processing zone known as Bataan Export Processing Zone (BEPZ; now known as Freeport Area of Bataan (FAB) since June 30, 2010).[3]
History
Construction of the Roman Superhighway began on April 7, 1973 during the Martial Law period and completed on July 16, 1977. The project was implemented by President Ferdinand Marcos. It was originally intended to be an expressway to serve BEPZ in Mariveles, Bataan, but it later became an at-grade highway when local residents built houses and businesses along it.
The fully concrete road has an effective width of 30 meters (98 ft), although some portions measured up to 60 meters (200 ft) maximum. Phase 1 of the total project covered from
Construction Development Corporation of the Philippines (CDCP) and Monark International worked on the project. CDCP accomplished its task in three years and three months. Phase 2 was completed by Monark in two years and 11 months. The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) designed and supervised the construction of the ₱164 million road project. Phase 1 costs ₱86 million, while ₱78 million was spent for Phase 2. The total amount includes the payment for the right-of-way of former agricultural lands. Some of the farmlots were even donated by the owners.
Throughout its existence, rehabilitation works were made on the highway such as applying asphalt overlay either on an existing concrete pavement or both the concrete pavement and the asphalt used on its shoulders and replacing an old pavement with a new one. Recently, some of its portions were widened to accommodate more motorists using the highway.
Route description
The road passes into nine towns (
.The highway also serves a major utility corridor, carrying various high voltage overhead power lines through densely populated areas where land and right of way acquisition for a normal power line is impractical. Notable power line using the highway's right of way for most or part of their route is the Hermosa–Calaguiman line from Layac Junction in Dinalupihan to Samal. Various power lines also intersect with the highway on some portions, such as the Mariveles–Balsik 500,000 volt, Bataan Combined Cycle Power Plant (BCCPP)–Hermosa, Hermosa–Limay, GNPower–Lamao, and Lamao–Limay 230,000 volt transmission lines.
Dinalupihan to Abucay
The highway starts at
Balanga to Mariveles
After passing the former location of Balanga welcome marker, a Camella Homes subdivision can be seen at this portion. The road continues on a straight direction, intersects with Tuyo Vicinal Road, and passing through Penelco main headquarters. A four-lane road named Enrique Garcia Sr. Avenue (named after the Bataan former governor) is located near Penelco headquarters. Pass the four-lane road is Tenejero Bridge. The National Food Authority (NFA) Bataan can be seen after the bridge. It then passes through barangays Munting Batangas where the road turns westward, Camacho, Tenejero after the Tenejero 2 Bridge, Bagong Silang, Cataning, Cupang Proper, and Central. Various schools and malls can be found along the Balanga portion of the highway such as the Bataan National High School, Bataan Heroes College, Vista Mall Bataan, and Waltermart Balanga.
After Barangay Central, it enters Pilar through Talisay Bridge. It passes mostly on rice paddies within the municipality but on Barangay Alauli, there is an intersection of the highway, the under-construction Alauli Flyover, and Governor J.J. Linao Road. Various establishments can be found near the intersection, such as the Total gas station. It turns westward and enters Orion through Campot Bridge. It continues northbound and passes through various barangay within Orion. Between Daan Pare and Puting Buhangin exits, the highway and Bataan National Road intersects temporarily. The highway enters Limay and will pass on some subdivisions such as Trivea Residences. It continues on a straight direction and turns eastward, passing to Mamala and T. Kaliwa Bridges, with Petron Limay station between them. It then passes to Limay Overpass and the entrances of Emerald Coast Executive Village are found on both sides of the highway a few meters after the said overpass. The road turns westward and eastward, then it will pass on a terminus of Bataan National Road. After the terminus of Bataan National Road is Alangan Bridge. It turns eastward and westward, continuing on a straight route, then passes with Petron Bataan Refinery, SMC Consolidated Power Plant, Ayam Bridge, Orica Philippines, Inc., and Lamao Bridge.
The highway then enters Mariveles after passing the Lamao Bridge. It passes through barangays Batangas II (a Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC) plant and PPDC Park can be seen within the barangay), Lucanin, Cabcaben (where the highway parallels with Old National Road), Mt. View (where the Old National Road ends and Blessed Regina Protmann Catholic School (BRPCS) is located), and Alasasin. It continues to Baseco Country through Freeport Area of Bataan (FAB) checkpoint where the Mariveles substation of National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) and Mariveles Coal-Fired Power Plant are visible from the highway and a bypass road going to Sisiman is located. The highway then passes the Zigzag Road. After Zigzag Road, it passes through FAB compound, Death March marker upon exiting the FAB compound, Jollibee Mariveles, Mariveles Municipal Hall, and the highway ends at Mariveles Bridge.
Intersections
The entire route is located in
City/Municipality | km | mi | Destinations | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
) | Northern terminus | ||||
) | SCTEX-Dinalupihan Exit | ||||
Pilar | 125 | 78 | N302 (Governor Joaquin J. Linao Road) | ||
Orion | 131 | 81 | N303 (Bataan National Road) | ||
Limay | 136 | 85 | N303 (Bataan National Road) | ||
N301 (Mariveles–Talaga Bay Road) | Southern terminus | ||||
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi |
References
- ^ "Bataan 1st". Department of Public Works and Highways. Retrieved 2018-08-12.
- ^ "Bataan 2nd". Department of Public Works and Highways. Retrieved 2018-08-12.
- ^ "Balanga Encyclopedia" (PDF). City of Balanga. Retrieved 2021-06-24.