The Pulilan section of the newly constructed Third Candaba Viaduct on the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) is now officially open to traffic.
This initial two-kilometer stretch is accessible for vehicles heading towards Metro Manila on the southbound lane. To accommodate the rehabilitation of the original Candaba Viaduct’s southbound lane, traffic has been temporarily diverted.
According to NLEX Corporation President Luigi Bautista, all 516 foundations for the Third Candaba Viaduct project have been completed. Additionally, 524 out of the 528 columns have been erected, with 209 of the 286 crossheads between the columns now in place. A total of 665 out of the 1,028 girders required for the new three-lane road on the viaduct have also been installed.
The Third Candaba Viaduct project is a significant step in strengthening the original structure of the Candaba Viaduct, which is now 50 years old. The new viaduct will serve as the foundation for the northbound and southbound lanes, which recently underwent retrofitting and slab rehabilitation.
The Third Viaduct, like the original Candaba Viaduct, spans five kilometers, crossing the boundaries of Pulilan, Bulacan, and Apalit, Pampanga. The project, funded by NLEX Corporation, costs P8 billion and is part of the ongoing expansion and rehabilitation efforts of the expressway.
The Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) approved the Third Candaba Viaduct project in 2022. TRB Executive Director Alvin Carullo previously stated that the project is targeted for completion by November 2024, in time for the expected surge of motorists and travelers during the holiday season.
