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NLEX to start southbound upgrade of Candaba Viaduct on July 11


The North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) Corp. will undertake a safety upgrade of the southbound portion of the Candaba Viaduct starting July 11.

In a statement, NLEX Corp. said the upgrade would ensure the integrity of the viaduct.

Along with the upgrade, the toll road operator said it would implement a rerouting plan for trucks with 12 wheels or more.

“The safety of our motorists has always been our topmost priority that’s why we conduct regular monitoring and implement necessary repairs and enhancements of our roads and bridges,” said NLEX Corp. president J. Luigi Bautista.

“Upon the inspection and reassessment of AMH Philippines, our engineering consultant, the southbound viaduct is still being adversely affected by heavy loads and in the interest of public safety, there is an immediate precautionary need to restrict the weight of vehicles traveling on it, while the retrofitting of the structure is ongoing,” he added.

NLEX Corp. said its engineering consultant recommended addressing the issue immediately to ensure the safety and long-term serviceability of the viaduct, adding that the limit for trucks using the southbound portion should be a maximum of 10-wheels and should not exceed a gross vehicle weight of 33 tons.

The tollway operator said it sees the rerouting scheme of trucks with 12-wheels and more as one of the immediate solutions to preserve this vital public infrastructure while it conducts the safety upgrade.

The rerouting scheme will affect the San Fernando and San Simon toll plazas.

Motorists are advised to have their RFIDs installed and ensure that their accounts are updated and have a sufficient load.

Class 1 and 2 vehicles, as well as 10-wheeler trucks below 33 tons, are still allowed to use the southbound portion of the viaduct. 

The northbound portion of Candaba will not be affected by the rerouting scheme, it said.

To minimize traffic slowdowns and guide motorists within the repair site, NLEX Corp. will deploy patrol crews and traffic marshals and place directional traffic signs at strategic locations.

Traffic updates will be posted on electronic variable message signs and announced via social media accounts.

The company, meanwhile, is expediting the construction of a third viaduct, which is expected to be completed by the fourth quarter of 2024.

NLEX Corp. is a subsidiary of the Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC), the toll road arm of the Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC). —VBL, GMA News

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