Iloilo-Capiz-Aklan Expressway to cut travel time across three provinces

(image for illustration purposes only)

By: By Pia Lorraine Francisco

ROXAS CITY, Capiz (PIA) — The Iloilo–Capiz–Aklan Expressway (ICAEx) is targeting a shorter travel time traversing two cities and 20 municipalities along three provinces in Panay Island.

A mega infrastructure project in Western Visayas, ICAEx is moving forward after the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) allocated new funding, with a proposed 210-kilometer, four-lane highway composed of elevated roadways, viaducts, a tunnel, and a long span bridge, with a controlled-access road linking Iloilo, Capiz, and Aklan provinces.

Currently, the travel time from Iloilo to Ivisan in the province of Capiz is approximately two hours or about 100 kilometers, while from Ivisan to Kalibo in the province of Aklan, the travel time is approximately one hour and 30 minutes or about 67 kilometers, which the proposed ICA Expressway is expected to reduce once operational.

This proposed expressway will traverse the municipalities of Dumarao, Cuartero, Dao, Jamindan, Sigma, Ivisan, Sapian, and Roxas City.

In Iloilo, the main entry point will be located in Barangay M.V. Hechanova in the municipality of Leganes, which is strategically located near the proposed bridge approach of the Panay-Guimaras Bridge, a component of the Panay-Guimaras-Negros Island Bridges Project.

The project aims to eliminate congestion in existing highways by avoiding chokepoints in populated areas; enhance the logistics network to ease the delivery of goods from source to destination; and improve the delivery of emergency response during times of flooding as a result of inclement weather.

More tourism development opportunities for various tourist attractions in Panay Island are also expected with the completion of the project. (EAD/AGP/PLF/PIA Capiz)