The groundbreaking of the Pangasinan Link Expressway (PLEX) Phase I was held on March 21, 2024 at Brgy. Balligi, Laoac, Pangasinan.
Spearheaded by Governor Ramon V. Guico III and Ramon S. Ang, president and chief executive officer (CEO) of San Miguel Corp. (SMC), the Php34-billion project, which is a historic first in the province of Pangasinan, is part of the latter’s broader initiative to enhance the road networks in Central and Northern Luzon.
In this part of the province, PLEX is a realization of an ambitious dream of the governor to bolster the province’s economic and tourism growth and a “game changer” for Pangasinan.
It can be recalled that the joint venture and tollway concession agreements between the two parties were officially sealed on Oct. 19, 2023.
The first phase of the 42.76-km gigantic project will span the town of Binalonan to the capital town of Lingayen.
Project segments include 6.9 km from Binalonan to Manaoag, 11.3 km from Manaoag to Calasiao, 2.39 km in the Calasiao area, and 22.7 km from Calasiao to Lingayen.
PLEX is a four-year public-private partnership initiative that is expected to change Pangasinan’s inland connectivity to facilitate faster movement of people, commodities, and services.
With its establishment, travel time from the town of Binalonan to Lingayen will be reduced from an hour to 40 minutes to only about 20 to 30 minutes.
In 35 years, PLEX will be owned by the province.