This Sunday, NLEX implements toll relief for users of Balintawak Plaza’s northbound lane

EASY SATURDAY Traffic in both the northbound and southbound lanes of the North Luzon Expressway along the Marilao overpass bridge in Bulacan remain smooth on Saturday, a day before the expected heavy congestion on Sunday when emergency repair has to be done on the bridge. —CARMELA REYES-ESTROPE

MARILAO, BULACAN—The North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) will implement today, Sunday, toll relief in the northbound lanes of Balintawak plaza as the repairs in the Marilao Overpass Bridge commenced.

In a statement on Friday, NLEX Corporation said it would implement a temporary no toll fee collection on the northbound portion of the expressway from Balintawak to Meycauayan on June 22 from 1 a.m. until midnight.

Further immediate repair was necessary after the bridge, while undergoing improvement works, again sustained severe damage on Wednesday after a trailer truck violated NLEX’s 4.27-meter Marilao overpass bridge vertical clearance regulation.

NLEX assured the public that appropriate traffic management measures would in place to minimize inconvenience on motorists.

Already weak

On Wednesday, traffic flow normalized in just over two hours since the trailer truck struck the lower portion of Marilao overpass bridge.

In a separate statement on Saturday, NLEX announced that it would replace the weakened Marilao overpass bridge with a new structure.

“In the interest of public safety, NLEX oﬀers to construct a new and upgraded bridge,” it said.

NLEX said the offer was the company’s support to the plans of relevant national and local government agencies to maintain safety of the motorists and the general public as well. The Marilao overpass bridge is part of the road network of the province of Bulacan.

Marilao Mayor-elect Jem Sy, when sought for comment on Saturday, said in a text message that he welcomed the gesture of NLEX.

“That is a good move on their part,” Sy said.

In March, NLEX also implemented toll relief for several days due to heavy traffic congestion both on the northbound and southbound lanes in Marilao while it conducted emergency repairs after an oversized truck hit and damaged the Marilao overpass bridge.

During Wednesday’s incident, a 54-year-old man, who was with his family heading for Baguio City for a vacation, died when he was struck by a metal beam of the overpass bridge, which got dislodged and fell on their vehicle after the cargo trailer truck in front of them hit the lower portion of the structure.