NLEX Corp. on Tuesday vowed to complete the construction of a 200-meter elevated portion of the expressway in San Simon, Pampanga before the end of the year.
This problematic and certainly high profile portion of the NLEX has proven an embarrassment and has formed part of the tollway’s flood mitigation program.
The company said it will start the pavement raising project under the Tulaoc overpass on Saturday and work 24/7 to ensure its completion as scheduled.
“We will do our best to accelerate the completion of the project to enable our motorists to immediately enjoy faster and safer travel in the area in any weather condition,” said NLEX president J. Luigi L. Bautista.
According to Bautista, two lanes in either direction will be available for motorists during its construction. A counterflow will be opened in the opposite direction to ensure seamless travel for motorists despite some lane closures.
The same traffic management scheme will be applied to the southbound direction once the works at the northbound portion are done.
The tollway company advises motorists to plan their trips and expect a heavy volume of traffic during the pavement raising.
“We would like to remind motorists to expect a high volume of traffic in the area once the project starts. While this may cause temporary inconvenience for motorists, the long term benefit of a flood-free road will be experienced once we fully complete the elevation of this San Simon area,” Bautista said.
NLEX has coordinated with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and concerned local government units to provide alternative routes for motorists as traffic congestion is experienced.
Since August, NLEX has undertaken preliminary works at the Tulaoc overpass in San Simon preparatory to its construction, which includes completing the detailed engineering design of the pavement raising of both the north and south bounds of the tollway.
Apart from elevating the 200-meter portion by 0.7 meter, NLEX plans to add another 0.3 meter on the pavement once the raising of the Tulaoc overpass by DPWH is completed, raising the portion by a total of 1 meter.
To minimize traffic slowdowns, NLEX Corp will implement the following: deployment of patrol crews and traffic marshals, installation of traffic signs in strategic locations, and posting of regular traffic updates on electronic variable message signs and social media accounts.
