All lanes are now open at the Meycauayan and Bigaa bridges in Bulacan as the Northern Luzon Expressway (NLEX) Corp. recently completed the rehabilitation of both bridges ahead of its original completion schedule.
“Despite some restrictions caused by the ongoing pandemic and the challenges brought about by inclement weather conditions and doing works in live traffic, we’re happy to announce that works in Meycauayan and Bigaa bridges are now completed ahead of schedule to provide motorists with safer and smoother travel,” J. Luigi L. Bautista, president and general manager of NLEX Corp., said in a news statement.
NLEX has replaced the girders and slabs of the two bridges to strengthen the structures and improve their serviceability as these were built in the 1960s. The 45-meter Meycauayan bridge and 64-meter Bigaa bridge are just some of the essential links within the expressway that facilitate the efficient movement of people and goods between the North and Metro Manila.
As NLEX Corp. places high value on the feedback of its daily commuters, the tollway company and its contractor proactively accelerated and managed the construction so that the project will be finished ahead of its original completion date.
Bulacan Governor Daniel Fernando expressed delight that the project was promptly finished. “This is a welcome news for all of us as we look forward to a better travel experience. This vital infrastructure is seen to enhance the safety and mobility of our motorists,” he said.
“We are pleased that the rehabilitation of Meycauayan bridge is now completed. We thank our private sector partner, NLEX, for doubling its efforts to ensure this early completion for our road users,” said Meycauayan City Mayor Linabelle Villarica.
For his part, Bocaue Mayor Jose Santiago Jr. noted that the completion would further help in the unhampered delivery of goods and transport of authorized persons outside of residence during the community quarantine. “It is impressive that this project was finished ahead of schedule so the public, especially the health workers and economic frontliners, will have ease of travel,” he said.
During the rehabilitation works, NLEX has implemented traffic management measures to alleviate the effect of lane closures on the flow of vehicles. Aside from opening zipper lanes and deploying patrol crews and marshals, it has coordinated with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Region 3 for the temporary opening of the two-lane service road in Meycauayan which was used as a detour.
NLEX Corporation is a subsidiary of the Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. the toll road arm of the Metro Pacific Investments Corp.