If you’re a frequent user of the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), you might have noticed that there are quite a few ongoing construction works along the tollway. That’s because, despite the ongoing community quarantines in place, NLEX Corporation is determined to finish the big bulk of these projects before the year ends.
“We are following our timelines and have contingencies in place to be able to accomplish our projects amid the community quarantine,” said NLEX Corporation president and GM, Luigi Bautista.
He also added that “by accelerating these projects, we are doing our part to help keep the economy going.”
Ongoing projects include the repair of the 5-kilometer Candaba Viaduct, which was constructed in 1974 and was opened to the motoring public in 1977. The current upgrade, which is targeted for completion by May this year, involves the replacement of the link slabs on the Manila-bound portion of the bridge. To date, the project is already 92% complete as 23 out of the 25 link slabs have been replaced.
Other repair works are being done on the Meycauayan and Bigaa bridges, which were built during the 1960s. The rehabilitation of the 45-meter Meycauayan bridge is targeted for completion by September 2021, while the rehabilitation of the 64-meter Bigaa bridge in Balagtas is expected to be finished by August 2021. To keep the traffic flowing as efficiently as possible, the project is being undertaken in stages, starting with the southbound portion.
Perhaps, the biggest project NLEX is undertaking is the construction of the first 5-kilometer of the NLEX Connector or the Caloocan-España link. This latest Metro Manila elevated expressway is being built over the existing right-of-way (ROW) of the Philippine National Railways (PNR) between the Caloocan Interchange along C3 Road/ 5th Ave. and España Blvd. in Sampaloc, Manila. Targeted for completion by the end of the year, the section will have on and off-ramps in España and will make NLEX accessible from the University Belt area.
