Negros Occidental Road Widening Boosts Traffic Capacity

BACOLOD CITY – The ongoing road widening along Bacolod South Road, specifically the Kabankalan-Hinobaan section, aims to accommodate more motorists and improve traffic flow, according to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

Widened sections of this major thoroughfare include areas in Barangays Man-uling, Tuyom, and Masaling in Cauayan, Negros Occidental.

DPWH Regional Director Sanny Boy O. Oropel said converting the existing two-lane road into a four-lane highway will offer significant benefits to motorists and local communities.

“Wider roads improve traffic flow, enhance safety, and provide economic benefits through better accessibility and infrastructure development,” Oropel said.

He emphasized that road widening primarily aims to increase road capacity and ease congestion, resulting in shorter travel times and a smoother driving experience.

Oropel also noted that better road access contributes to improved accessibility to essential government services like healthcare, education, and employment opportunities, thus promoting social equity.

The road widening project, managed by the DPWH Negros Occidental 3rd District Engineering Office, involves expanding a two-kilometer stretch from Barangays Man-uling to Isio in Cauayan by adding a lane on both sides.

District Engineer Rodney A. Gustilo, who was recently appointed OIC-Assistant Regional Director for the Negros Island Region, said the PHP 74.777-million project, funded under the 2023 General Appropriations Act (GAA), includes the installation of grouted riprap, stone masonry, Chevron signs, and reflectorized thermoplastic pavement markings.

Additionally, Gustilo revealed that PHP 93.393 million was allocated for widening a 1.167-kilometer stretch in Barangay Tuyom and a 1.658-kilometer section in Barangay Masaling, both in Cauayan. These projects include slope protection measures, pipe culverts, and hazard markers.

“These road widening efforts ensure that motorists and commuters have safer and more convenient transportation access, reducing traffic congestion,” Gustilo said.

The expanded roads are expected to facilitate the efficient movement of people, goods, and services, making transportation more comfortable and cost-effective. (DPWH photos)