Metro Manila, Philippines – All northbound lanes of the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) Marilao segment affected by a damaged bridge are now accessible to vehicular traffic, the toll operator said, a week shorter than the original target repairs.
In an advisory, NLEX Corporation said the four lanes were open beginning Wednesday midnight, March 26.
The toll operator earlier announced it may take two weeks to fix the bridge. Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon said repairs could be done in a week. Passage was free on the road segment pending completion of repairs – again after a recommendation from the transportation chief.
On March 19, an 18-wheeler truck that exceeded the bridge clearance damaged the girders.
NLEX said “supporting steel poles will remain on the lanes to allow concrete curing of the bridge.”
“NLEX accelerated the repairs with teams working around the clock and with the expedited delivery of the fabricated steel needed for the bridge,” it said.
In a statement, the Department of Transportation thanked the toll operator for its swift action.
“This will now allow close to normal travel times, so that commuters and motorists on NLEX can spend more valuable time with their families and reach their destinations promptly,” the agency said.
