NLEx Philippine Arena interchange to open by end-November for SEA Games

The North Luzon Expressway (NLEx) Philippine Arena Interchange will be open to motorists by the end of November, giving access to those attending the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.

The interchange’s section from Philippine Arena to the southbound side of NLEx will be open on November 29, while the southbound section from north of NLEx going to the Philippine Arena will open on November 30 only for the SEA Games Opening Ceremony.

The limited opening of the interchange is to give way to the remaining works of the interchange project.

Public Works Secretary Mark Villar led the inaugural drive-thru of the new interchange with Senator Joel Villanueva, House Majority Leader Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, Bulacan Governor Daniel Fernando, Bocaue Mayor Eleonor Villanueva, Toll Regulatory Board Executive Director Abraham Sales, Iglesia ni Cristo Head Legal Counsel Atty. Glicerio Santos IV, and NLEx Corp. senior vice president for Communication and Stakeholder Management Atty. Romulo Quimbo Jr.

The NLEx Philippine Arena interchange aims to improve mobility and accessibility within the Bulacan road network particularly in Bocaue, Sta. Maria, Pandi, Norzagaray, Angat, and other nearby towns.

The Philippine Arena Interchange features an 80-lineal meter bridge which connects Bocaue Municipal Hall, NLEx, Ciudad de Victoria, and Bocaue-Sta. Maria Bypass Road.

It also has a northbound entry and exit toll plaza and soon, a southbound toll plaza for better accessibility.

“The Philippine Arena Interchange is just one of our priority projects in Bulacan to help ease mounting traffic along Governor F. Halili Road in Bocaue-Sta.Maria and address the usual heavy traffic situation at the Bocaue Interchange,” Villar said.

“We also expect this new road to further accelerate trade and commerce within the province,” he added.

A 1.91-kilometer road from MacArthur Highway to Bocaue Municipal will get improvement works and a 1.3-kilometer road from the Philippine Arena to the existing Patubig Road in Marilao, Bulacan will be constructed.

“... This project ... will further improve the roads leading to the Philippine Arena, especially now that we are hosting the 30th Southeast Asian Games Opening Ceremony,” Villar said.

Touted as the world’s largest indoor arena, the 55,000-seat Philippine Arena is a venue for international sports and entertainment events.

It is part of the Ciudad de Victoria, a tourism enterprise zone in Bocaue and Sta. Maria.

“NLEx is keen on supporting the government’s infrastructure plan as it also provides travel convenience to motorists using the expressway system and opens up opportunities for local communities,” NLEx Corp. president and general manager Luigi Bautista said. —VDS, GMA News