Halfway There: Roma Point, Calabarzon's Future Longest Bridge, Reaches Construction Milestone
The Roma Point Bridge, valued at 5.944 billion and considered the longest bridge in the entire Calabarzon, has achieved 42 percent completion, says Engr. Rodel Florido of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Quezon 4th District Engineering Office, in an update posted on Quezon Province's official Facebook page.
Spanning 2.17 kilometers across Lamon Bay, the bridge will link the towns of Lopez and Calauag with Alabat Island, Quezon, and Perez (Alquerez). Long desired by the island's residents, the ambitious project is expected to improve access to vital institutions such as hospitals and schools, and make travel and transport of people, cargo, and services faster and easier to and from geographically isolated island towns.
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Currently, ferry boats serve as the primary means of transportation for the residents of Alquerez Island, requiring roughly a 45-minute journey to Gumaca. However, adverse weather conditions often lead to the Philippine Coast Guard prohibiting ferry boats from sailing, posing significant issues for the island's inhabitants.
In 2017, the feasibility study for the project was conducted, an effort led by then-Congresswoman (now Governor) Dr. Helen Tan. Initial funding was secured in 2018, and the groundbreaking for the bridge project took place the same year, with its foundational pillars established by March 2020.
The project, which is expected to be completed in 2028, will feature two lanes, a carriageway, bike lanes on both sides, and sidewalks, making it a potential tourist attraction upon completion.
Supported by 37 piers, construction has currently progressed to the 20th and 21st piers, according to Florido.
