NLEX Corp. on Wednesday broke ground for the construction of a new five-kilometer bridge between Pampanga and Bulacan that further improves the safety and mobility of motorists.
Targeted for completion by November 2024, the P7.89-billion Candaba 3rd Viaduct entails the construction of a new bridge in the middle of two existing viaducts.
Once completed, this will increase road capacity of the entire Candaba Viaduct from three lanes without shoulder to three lanes with inner and outer shoulders in each direction. The lanes and shoulders will be wide hence, boosting the safety and convenience of those traversing it.
“This project will not only increase the capacity of the 5-km Candaba Viaduct but will ultimately improve safety and convenience of the motorists, as well as aid in the acceleration and growth of trade and commerce in Central Luzon,” Rogelio Singson, MPTC president and chief executive, said.
House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez stressed the importance of the new bridge seen to alleviate traffic congestion and reduce travel time for commuters who rely on this vital link each day.
“This project will not only enhance the efficiency of our transportation network but also contribute to the overall socioeconomic development of the region. It will create jobs, attract investments, and stimulate economic growth,” Romualdez said.
The Candaba 3rd Viaduct will be built using green and sustainable engineering practices and will be compliant with the country’s latest bridge design requirements. It will have piers at every 20 meters, with each being supported by two columns and two bored piles which will strengthen the structure amidst the swampy condition of the natural ground underneath it.
“This new mobility project will offer easy journeys and make travel safer for the public traveling between Metro Manila and Central and North Luzon as there will be a new structure to augment the existing ones and will safely allow the speed limit to increase to 60 to 80 kilometers per hour from the current 40 to 60 kilometers per hour,” Bautista said.
Upon completion, Class 3 vehicles or large trucks will be directed to the new bridge so that the old structures will be relieved of heavy loads.
Bautista said that based on previous studies, the construction of the third viaduct is necessary as the current structures are aging and operating at reduced capacity.
At the same time, he assured the motoring public travel comfort will not be sacrificed as the majority of the work will not affect current operations and traffic flow in the existing viaducts. The construction site will be manned by competent engineers and management teams to ensure efficiency and safety.
The Candaba Viaduct is a vital link for motorists traveling between Metro Manila and provinces in Central and North Luzon for over 50 years. It has withstood natural disasters such as severe typhoons and extreme earthquakes.
Since 2005, the tollway company has been upgrading the viaduct. Some of the works completed include pavement resurfacing; bridge link slab, girder, and deck replacement; girder and column strengthening; and construction of lay-bys or emergency stops in both northbound and southbound directions of the bridge.
In 2020, the company also started implementing stringent anti-overloading efforts such as enforcing the 33-ton gross vehicle weight limit on the southbound viaduct to further ensure the safety and long-term serviceability of the bridge.
