San Miguel Corporation (SMC) is likely to complete the 88.85 km Tarlac–Pangasinan–La Union Expressway (TPLEX) by 2015, almost three years ahead of schedule. The TPLEX is being developed by SMC’s Private Infrastructure Development Corporation (PIDC) on a build-operate-transfer basis. Earlier, PIDC had opened the project’s 17 km Phase 1A that runs from Tarlac City to Gerona for free public use. Work is under way on the 27 km stretch from Paniqui to Moncada and then to Carmen in Pangasinan, which includes the construction of the 950 metre Agno viaduct. While originally slated for completion by December 2014, PIDC expects to deliver this segment as early as April 2014. Currently, SMC is awaiting the completion of the acquisition of right of way for the 13.72 km portion from the north bank of the Agno river up to Urdaneta, which is targeted for completion by December 2014. The remaining 25.83 km section from Urdaneta to Rosario, La Union, will be completed in 2015.
