NLEX Corp. on Friday said that the construction of the new five-kilometer Candaba 3rd Viaduct is progressing smoothly and is expected to be completed by November this year.
J. Luigi L. Bautista, NLEX president and general manager, said the NLEX Candaba 3rd Viaduct project is now 92 percent completed.
“The Candaba 3rd Viaduct project reflects our commitment to enhancing travel convenience and safety for motorists. We are thrilled to provide a safer and more efficient travel experience ahead of the holiday rush. We are grateful to all our partners, both in the private and public sector, for their commitment and support for this project,” Bautista said.
NLEX divided the project into three zones to ensure timely completion. Zone 1 or the Pulilan portion was completed last August while zones 2 and 3, covering the Apalit area, are set for completion by September and November, respectively.
For over 40 years, the Candaba Viaduct has been a crucial link between Pulilan in Bulacan and Apalit in Pampanga, its two existing bridges catering to north and southbound motorists.
The construction of the 3rd Viaduct, positioned between the bridges, is part of NLEX’s broader initiative to enhance the expressway’s serviceability, safety, and reliability.
Other projects have been lined up or underway in Pampanga to improve the travel experience for expressway users and help decongest local roads, contributing to the province’s overall progress.
These include the NLEX Segment 3 Widening project that expands the road capacity of NLEX San Fernando to the SCTEX Spur in Mabalacat, Pampanga. Scheduled to start in the first quarter next year, the expansion will increase the expressway’s capacity from two to three lanes in each direction, providing faster and more seamless travel.
The project also includes the installation of roadway lighting from NLEX San Fernando to Sta. Ines, Mabalacat for enhanced safety, and the expansion of the Mexico Interchange to accommodate the growing volume of vehicles in the area.
The Department of Public Works and Highways Sto. Tomas Interchange project, currently under construction between San Simon and San Fernando in Pampanga, will also help decongest major roads such as the Jose Abad Santos Avenue (JASA) and the Olongapo-Gapan road by bringing NLEX closer to the towns in the west.
While this is a DPWH project, its completion and subsequent operation and maintenance is a collaborative effort of the DPWH, the Toll Regulatory Board, and NLEX with the support of the Sto. Tomas LGU and the 4th District of Pampanga.
The construction remains on track to its target completion in the fourth quarter of 2025.
