CANDABA — NLEX Corporation started constructing the third Candaba third viaduct between Pampanga and Bulacan.
Once completed, the bridge is expected to improve the safety and mobility of the motorists plying the expressway.
A groundbreaking ceremony was led by House Speaker and Leyte First District Representative Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, Senior Deputy Speaker and Pampanga Third District Representative Aurelio Gonzales, Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) Executive Director Alvin Carullo, Pampanga Governor Dennis Pineda, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Region 3 Director Roseller Tolentino, Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC) President Rogelio L. Singson, and NLEX Corporation President J. Luigi L. Bautista.
Targeted for completion by November 2024, this P7.89-billion structure includes the construction of a new bridge in the middle of the two existing viaducts.
Once completed, the third viaduct will increase the road capacity of the entire Candaba bridge --- from three lanes without shoulder to three lanes with inner and outer shoulders in each direction.
These wide lanes and shoulders will boost the safety and convenience of those traversing the viaduct.
“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,” Singson said.
Romualdez stressed the bridge is seen to alleviate the traffic congestion and reduce travel time for the commuters who rely on this vital link every 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 3rd Candaba Viaduct will be built using green and sustainable engineering practices and will be compliant with the country’s latest bridge design requirements, the MPTC said.
It will have piers at every 20 meters, with each pier being supported by two columns and two bored piles which will strengthen the structure amidst the swampy condition of the natural ground underneath the viaduct.
“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,” said Bautista.
He added that “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 a reduced capacity.
He assured the motorists that their travel comfort will not be sacrificed as majority of the works will not affect the current operations and traffic flow in the two existing viaduct.
Bautista assured that the construction site will be manned by competent engineers and management teams to ensure efficiency and safety.
The Candaba Viaduct has been a vital link for motorists traveling between Metro Manila and the provinces in Central and North Luzon for over 50 years now.
The bridge 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 were 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 has also started implementing stringent anti-overloading efforts such as enforcing the 33-ton gross vehicle weight limit on the southbound viaduct to ensure the safety and long-term serviceability of the bridge.
NLEX Corporation is a subsidiary of the Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC), the tollways unit of Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC).