Expect heavy traffic on NLEx for 2 weeks

PATIENCE NEEDED The operator of the North Luzon Expressway has asked motorists to be patient as it starts repairs on the Marilao interchange bridge in the tollway’s Bulacan section. The bridge was damaged after a Bataan-bound truck hit it on Wednesday afternoon. —PHOTO COURTESY OF NLEX CORP.

MARILAO, BULACAN—Motorists traveling on the North Luzon Expressway (NLEx) should prepare for traffic congestion along the northbound lane toward Marilao, Bulacan, in the next two weeks as repair work began on a bridge that was hit by a truck on Wednesday.

According to NLEx Corp. officials, repairs on the Marilao interchange bridge, which started on Thursday following a thorough damage assessment, are expected to be completed before the Holy Week, considered a peak season for travelers as they troop to provinces in central and northern Luzon.

On Wednesday at 1:12 p.m., an 18-wheel truck bound for Bataan struck and damaged the bridge. The 4.9-meter tall truck, which was carrying oxygen tanks from Metro Manila, exceeded the expressway’s 4.2-meter vertical clearance limit and hit the bridge as it passed through NLEx’s Marilao section.

Col. Eulogio Lamqui III, Marilao police chief, reported that the truck did not use a dedicated lane in order to bypass height restrictions, violating Republic Act No. 8794 (Anti-Overloading Law).

The middle lanes approaching the bridge will be closed while repairs are ongoing for at least two weeks. —PHOTO COURTESY OF NLEX CORP.

Safety is priority

The impact severely damaged two girders of the Marilao interchange bridge. NLEx Corp. said temporary support had been installed in the bridge but full girder replacements would be needed to ensure long-term structural integrity and motorists’ safety.

“During this time, motorists should expect heavy traffic in the area as we work diligently to complete the repairs, prioritizing the safety of all drivers,” NLEx Corp. said in a statement.

The middle northbound lanes (lanes 2 and 3) will remain closed for the duration of the repairs. But a zipper lane will be opened on the southbound lane as needed to ease traffic congestion, the tollway operator said.

The damaged bridge is located around 11 kilometers from the Balintawak Toll Plaza, according to NLEx Corp. The traffic buildup began early on Wednesday afternoon, with the tail end of northbound vehicles stretching to Balintawak. As of Thursday afternoon, three northbound lanes had been opened with one zipper lane, making four lanes already operational.

Motorists from Metro Manila on their way to Bulacan or Pampanga provinces have been advised to use the Karuhatan, Paso de Blas or Meycauayan exits so they can take MacArthur Highway. They can re-enter NLEx through Ciudad de Victoria (CDV) or Bocaue interchange exits.

Those coming from Bulacan or Pampanga and on their way to Metro Manila have been advised to exit at Bocaue southbound interchange or CDV, turn right toward MacArthur Highway and reenter NLEx through Meycauayan southbound.

To mitigate traffic buildup, NLEx Corp. had intensified traffic management measures and urged motorists to plan their trips ahead.