NLEX Corp. said Friday it will start the upgrading of the northbound portion of the five-kilometer Candaba Viaduct next month after completing the southbound portion of the bridge.
It said 13 priority link slabs that connect bridge deck spans would be replaced in about six months to provide comfortable driving experience to motorists traversing the vital road network between Pampanga and Bulacan provinces.
“We always ensure to maintain our assets for the benefit of thousands of motorists plying our expressway. Whether it is above the bridge or under the bridge, we keep on doing the upgrades for the Candaba Viaduct as we want motorists to continue having safe and comfortable travel,” said J. Luigi Bautista, president and general manager of NLEX.
The upgrades for the Candaba Viaduct started in 2019 as part of the four-year rehabilitation plan that aims to enhance its efficiency and safety. Last year, the tollway firm completed the link slab upgrade of the southbound segment which has since improved safety and long-term serviceability of the structure.
Works on the northbound will require motorists to pass with care as a temporary steel Bailey bridge will be installed so cars, vans, small trucks and buses will be able to cross over the repair site. A counterflow lane at the southbound carriageway will be open for the vehicles and cargo trucks.
Proper traffic management that includes the deployment of patrol officers and marshals and installation of directional traffic signs will be in place to guide motorists. Traffic updates will also be available on the company’s various social media channels.
The Candaba Viaduct is a reliable link between Metro Manila and North and Central Luzon. Several engineering studies were done and major repairs and maintenance works were implemented to maximize its capacity and retain its good condition.
NLEX constructed emergency bays in both the northbound and southbound directions of the bridge and upgraded it to three lanes using the shoulders as third lanes in 2017. This year, the company is also looking into constructing a third bridge to further improve mobility in and out of the viaduct.
NLEX is a subsidiary of Metro Pacific Tollways Corp., the toll road arm of Metro Pacific Investments Corp.