Candaba Third Viaduct project to be completed by Nov. 2024

Today marks the start of the full-blast construction works for the new Candaba Third Viaduct project following its groundbreaking rites held in Pulilan, Bulacan.

Eyed to be completed by November next year, the P7.89-billion project involved the construction of a new bridge in between the two existing viaducts — widening the portion of the road to three lanes with inner and outer shoulders in each direction.

“This project will not only increase the capacity of the five-kilometer Candaba Viaduct but will ultimately improve safety and convenience of the motorists, as well as aid in the acceleration and growth of trade and commerce in Central Luzon,” Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC) President and Chief Executive Officer Rogelio Singson said.

Further, the Candaba Third Viaduct will be constructed using green and sustainable engineering practices and will be compliant with the country’s latest bridge design requirements.

“This new mobility project will offer easy journeys and make travel safer for the public traveling between Metro Manila and Central and North Luzon as there will be a new structure to augment the existing ones and will safely allow the speed limit to increase to 60 to 80 kilometers per hour from the current 40 to 60 kilometers per hour,” NLEX Corporation President and General Manager Luigi Bautista shared.

Bautista also said that upon completion, large trucks will be directed to utilize the new bridge so that the old structures will be relieved of heavy loads.

He noted that based on previous studies, the construction of the third viaduct is necessary as the current structures are already aging and operating at a reduced capacity. Meanwhile, he assured the public that travel comfort will not be sacrificed while the project is being undertaken as majority of the works will not affect the current operations and traffic flow in the two existing viaducts.

For his part, House of Representatives Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez —who also led the groundbreaking rites — said that the project is a “symbol of the fruitful partnership between the government and the private sector.”

Moreover, Romualdez stressed the importance of the soon-to-be-completed bridge as it will alleviate traffic congestion and reduce travel time.

“This project will not only enhance the efficiency of our transportation network but also contribute to the overall socioeconomic development of the region. It will create jobs, attract investments, and stimulate economic growth,” Romualdez said.

“As we break ground today, we are not just laying the foundation for a new structure; we are paving the way for progress, prosperity, and a brighter future for our nation. The Candaba Third Viaduct will stand tall as a symbol of our aspirations, our commitment to sustainable development, and our unwavering dedication to the welfare of our people,” the House leader pointed out.

Furthermore, Romualdez called for more projects through public-private partnership, saying it is the key to the modernization of the country’s infrastructure necessary to usher progress and development and uplift the lives of our people.

Per NLEX Corporation, the viaduct has been upgraded since 2005. 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. In 2020, the toll operator began implementing stringent anti-overloading efforts such as enforcing the 33-ton gross vehicle weight limit on the southbound viaduct to further ensure the safety and long-term serviceability of the bridge.

Aside from Singson, Bautista, and Romualdez, Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales, Toll Regulatory Board Executive Director Alvin Carullo, Pampanga Governor Dennis Pineda, and Department of Public Works and Highways Region 3 Director Roseller Tolentino graced the program.  

Photos from Ruben Manahan IV

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NLEX southbound Candaba viaduct slab link upgrade now complete

NLEX Candaba viaduct northbound lane upgrade to start next month

NLEX starts upgrading Candaba Viaduct