The Public Works Department on Tuesday inaugurated the new NLEX Philippine Arena Interchange to improve mobility and accessibility in Bulacan province ahead of the SEA Games opening ceremony.
It said the section from Philippine Arena to the southbound side of North Luzon Expressway would open on Nov. 29, while the southbound section from north of NLEX going to the Philippine Arena would open on Nov. 30 only for the SEA Games opening ceremony. The government said there were remaining works on the interchange project.
The Philippine Arena Interchange features an 80-lineal-meter bridge which connects Bocaue Municipal Hall, NLEX, Ciudad de Victoria and Bocaue-Sta. Maria Bypass Road.
It also has a northbound entry and exit toll plaza and soon, a southbound toll plaza for better accessibility.
“The Philippine Arena Interchange is just one of our priority projects in Bulacan to help ease mounting traffic along Governor F. Halili Road in Bocaue-Sta. Maria and address the usual heavy traffic situation at the Bocaue Interchange,” Public Works Secretary Mark Villar said.
“We also expect this new road to further accelerate trade and commerce within the province,” he said.
A 1.91-kilometer road from MacArthur Highway to Bocaue Municipal Hall will be improved and a 1.3-kilometer road from the Philippine Arena to the existing Patubig Road in Marilao, Bulacan will be constructed.
“We are excited with this project that will further improve the roads leading to the Philippine Arena, especially now that we are hosting the 30th Southeast Asian Games Opening Ceremony,” Villar said.
Touted as the world’s largest indoor arena, the 55,000-seat Philippine Arena is a venue for international sports and entertainment events. It is part of the Ciudad de Victoria, a tourism enterprise zone in Bocaue and Sta. Maria.
NLEX Corp. president and general manager J Luigi Bautista said, “NLEX is keen on supporting the government’s infrastructure plan as it also provides travel convenience for motorists using the expressway system and opens up opportunities for local communities.”
