THE North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) Corporation moves to fast-track the simultaneous rehabilitation of NLEX bridges in Meycauayan and Bigaa in Balagtas, Bulacan, as it targets substantial completion by August 16 or a month ahead of its original completion date of September 15, 2021.
President and General Manager of NLEX Corporation J. Luigi Bautista said the tollway company and its contractor worked together to find ways to speed up the work and complete the project for the benefit of the public.
“We have reached a significant breakthrough in our discussions with our contractor so we can finish ahead of schedule and provide motorists with safer and more convenient travel before the ‘ber’ months begin. Barring any unforeseen events, the accelerated completion date of Bigaa Bridge is August 11 (instead of August 31), and the substantial completion date for Meycauayan is August 16 (instead of September 15),” Bautista said.
With this development, rehabilitation work on the southbound portion of Meycauayan bridge has been finished and the repairs on the northbound side of the bridge will start on July 18.
Meanwhile, work on the northbound segment of the Bigaa bridge is steadily progressing.
The NLEX Corporation has also implemented new traffic management measures to ease traffic delays while the Meycauayan bridge rehabilitation is ongoing.
Aside from opening counterflow lanes and deploying more patrol crews and marshals on site, NLEX teamed up with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to temporarily open the two-lane service road in Meycauayan so motorists with light vehicles can use it as a detour.
“We are thankful to our partners in DPWH for allowing us to use the service road for light vehicles so we can maintain four lanes in each direction to ease congestion and serve motorists better,” Bautista said.
In April, the tollway company started the rehabilitation of the said bridges, which involves the replacement of girders and slabs to strengthen the structures and improve their lifespan.
These two bridges are vital in supporting safe, reliable and efficient movement of people and goods between the metro and the provinces in the north.
Bulacan Governor Daniel Fernando, in an earlier statement, extended his support to these important infrastructure developments that will improve the serviceability of NLEX, strengthen connectivity, boost investment, and open up job opportunities in the province of Bulacan.
NLEX Corporation is a subsidiary of the Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation, the toll road arm of the Metro Pacific Investments Corporation.