NLEX Corp. said Tuesday it expects to complete the elevation of a 200-meter portion of the North Luzon Expressway in San Simon, Pampanga before the end of the year as part of its flood mitigation program.
The company said it would start the pavement-raising project under the Tulaoc overpass on Saturday and would work 24/7 to ensure the completion on schedule.
“We will do our best to accelerate the completion of the project to enable our motorists to immediately enjoy faster and safer travel in the area in any weather condition,” said NLEX president J. Luigi Bautista.
NLEX said that starting at the northbound direction, two lanes per direction would be available for motorists during the construction works. A counterflow will be opened in the opposite direction to ensure seamless travel for motorists despite the lane closures.
The same traffic management scheme will be applied to the southbound direction once the works at the northbound portion are done, it said.
The tollway company is advising motorists to plan their trips and expect heavy volume of traffic during the pavement raising.
“We would like to remind our motorists to expect high volume of traffic in the area once the project starts. While this may cause temporary inconvenience for our motorists, the long term benefit of a flood-free road will be experienced once we fully complete the elevation of the this San Simon area,” Bautista said.
NLEX said it coordinated with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and concerned local government units to provide alternative routes for motorists in case traffic congestion is experienced.
NLEX has been undertaking preliminary works under the Tulaoc overpass in San Simon since August in preparation for the construction of the project, which include the completion of the detailed engineering design for the pavement raising of both the north and south bounds.
Apart from elevating the 200-meter portion by 0.7 meter, NLEX plans to add another 0.3 meter on the pavement once the raising of the Tulaoc overpass by DPWH is completed, raising the portion by a total of 1 meter.
To minimize traffic slowdowns and provide immediate roadside assistance, the tollway company said it would implement the following traffic management scheme: deployment of patrol crews and traffic marshals, installation of traffic signs in strategic locations, and posting of regular traffic updates on electronic variable message signs and social media accounts.