Dalton Pass East Alignment Road
Road in the Philippines
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Dalton Pass East Alignment Road is a 23-kilometer (14 mi), four-lane bypass road and tunnel project currently under development in the Philippines. Designed as a high-standard highway (HSH), it serves as a disaster-resilient alternative to the existing Dalton Pass section of the Pan-Philippine Highway (AH26). Upon completion, it will feature the longest road tunnel in the country.
| Dalton Pass East Alignment Road | |
|---|---|
| Dalton Pass Alternative Road | |
| Route information | |
| Length | 23.0 km (14.3 mi) |
| Major junctions | |
| North end | Santa Fe, Nueva Vizcaya |
| South end | Carranglan, Nueva Ecija |
| Location | |
| Country | Philippines |
| Provinces | Nueva Vizcaya, Nueva Ecija |
| Highway system | |
| |
History
Conceptualization
The project was first identified in the 1982 report by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).[1] The study proposed a tunnel to bypass the geologically unstable Caraballo Mountains, which are frequently rendered impassable by landslides and were severely damaged during the 1990 Luzon earthquake. In 1996, the Subic Freeport Expressway introduced the nation's first tolled expressway tunnel, even though the broader project had not yet been completed.
Implementation
On March 26, 2024, the Philippine government and JICA signed a ¥100 billion loan agreement (Phase I) for the project under Special Terms for Economic Partnership (STEP).[2] Detailed engineering designs (DED) and procurement for specialized mountain tunneling equipment were finalized by the Unified Project Management Office (UPMO).[3]
In January 2026, the DPWH officially rolled out the ₱67.4-billion civil works phase. Project Manager Nelson Graza confirmed the start of pre-construction activities, including surveying and portal clearing.[4] Simultaneously, Governor Jose Gambito called for consultations with the Kalanguya indigenous communities regarding ancestral domain impacts.[5]
Infrastructure
The project is scheduled for completion by 2031 and consists of the following components:[6]
- Total length: 23.0 kilometres (14.3 mi), four lanes.
- Twin-tube tunnels: 6.121 kilometres (3.803 mi) total, consisting of a North Tunnel (4.516 kilometres [2.806 mi]) and a South Tunnel (1.605 kilometres [0.997 mi]).
- Bridges: 10 bridges with a combined length of 5.828 kilometres (3.621 mi).
- At-grade roads: 11.051 kilometres (11.051 km) of highway including slope protection works.
Toll collection and management
The road is planned to operate as a tolled facility to fund the maintenance of specialized tunnel systems. The management structure is based on technical standards established during the JICA preparatory survey phase.[7]
Toll collection method
The project will utilize a hybrid toll collection system:
- Electronic toll collection (ETC): The primary method involves RFID technology to ensure seamless traffic flow through the mountainous terrain.
- Manual collection: Manual booths will be available for vehicles not equipped with electronic tags.
- Future review: Technical specifications for tolling will be finalized prior to the opening of the road to account for advancements in electronic payment systems.[7]
Mainline toll plaza layout
The toll plaza design is calculated based on projected annual average daily traffic (AADT) and design hourly volume (DHV):
- Lane configuration: A total of six lanes (three lanes per direction).
- Allocation: Two dedicated ETC lanes and one manual lane for each direction of travel.
- Administrative buildings: On-site facilities include toll offices and electrical rooms for utility management.[7]
Tunnel management center
A dedicated tunnel management center will oversee operations 24/7. The organizational hierarchy consists of:
- Operations: A center chief overseeing four rotating shifts of command staff.
- Monitoring: Dedicated personnel for CCTV surveillance and traffic control.
- Maintenance: On-site teams for electrical facility and mechanical system upkeep.
- Emergency response: A specialized unit for fire safety and emergency response stationed specifically to manage incidents within the twin-tube tunnels.[7]