NLEX Corp. said Tuesday it is on track to completing the new five-kilometer Candaba 3rd Viaduct between Pampanga and Bulacan provinces by November 2024.
The operator of North Luzon Expressway and Subic-Clark Tarlac Expressway said it successfully installed the first girder of the Candaba 3rd Viaduct, marking the project’s halfway point.
The installation of the first girder marks the pivotal transition from groundwork-heavy construction to road-level work, minimizing the project’s dependence on ground access. This ensures that work can continue in all-weather conditions.
“This remarkable achievement shows NLEX’s commitment to complete the project by November 2024,” said NLEX president and general manager J. Luigi Bautista.
“We are very glad that our chosen construction partner, Leighton Contractors (Asia) Limited, is one with us in our objective to expedite work on the project, while prioritizing the safety of all workers and ensuring the structural soundness of the new bridge,” he said.
The milestone coincides with the project’s attainment of one million safe manhours, reflecting a culture of safety and conducive work environment in the construction of NLEX’s Candaba 3rd Viaduct.
The project spans five kilometers and is situated between two existing bridges connecting the towns of Pulilan, Bulacan and Apalit, Pampanga.
Upon its completion, the Candaba Viaduct will be widened to three lanes with inner and outer shoulders in each direction, thereby enhancing safety and mobility for motorists.
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. It has 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.