Construction of the four-lane Ormoc City Diversion Road has begun. The road project will provide access to those traversing the barangays of San Juan, Lao and Naungan in Ormoc City, as well as reduce traffic along the Merida-Isabel-Palompon route.

Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Leyte 4th District Engineer Lino Francisco Gonzalez said a total of P300 million has been allotted for the construction of the 5.28-kilometer diversion road.

The project is divided into four contract packages covering the concreting of a four-lane road with shoulders, slope protection structure, box culvert, line canal and a 75-meter, two-lane bridge.

The DPWH initiated the project last March through Contract Package A and B, which are now both 37 percent completed. Two other contract packages begun in May this year are currently 22 percent completed.

Gonzales said Diversion Road project is expected to be finished by first quarter of 2019.