SAN SIMON -- A portion of the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) interchange bridge was closed to traffic due to major repair.
The bridge located in Barangay San Agustin here connects the four entry and exit points of NLEX, as well as this town's internal villages to the McArthur Hiway.
According to Mayor Leonora Wong, one lane of the bridge has been closed since Tuesday to give way for the retrofitting program implemented in the area.
She said that the the existing structure will be strengthened and two lanes will be added to the one kilometer road to better serve motorists and commuters.
"As of now strengthened muna tapos magiging four-lane na ang bridge para makasabay siya sa development na nangyayari sa San Simon," she said.
Wong explained that the contractor of the project will replace the existing deck slab of the bridge and will install additional bored piles and steel jacket to strengthen the structure.
She said the project facilitated by the NLEx will take about four months and is expected to finish early next year.
Traffic situation
Chief Inspector German Pascua II, this town's police chief, said that police officers, traffic aides and NLEx Patrol will be deployed around the area to manage the flow of vehicles.
He stressed that he designated at least 10 policemen in the area to augment traffic enforcers and NLEx Patrol group during rush hours when a big volume of vehicles pass by the bridge and the CDCP junction.
Pascua also said that rerouting schemes are also available for motorists who want to avoid the area.
He said that motorists going to Apalit, Masantol and Bulacan may use the internal roads of Barangay Sta. Monica, San Simon and Sto. Niño going out of McArthur Hiway as alternative route.
Motorists who will be going to Manila via NLEx have to endure the traffic and are advised to take extra patience.
"Simula po nung Martes, medyo maabala po ang mga motorista natin pero konting pasensya lang po dahil mas makakatulong naman po sa atin ang magiging resulta ng road project," he said.