New Bulacan flyover to ease traffic between NCR, north Luzon

FASTER TRAVEL This newly completed Guinguinto Flyover in Bulacan, shown here on Oct. 10, is part of the Plaridel Bypass that connects to the North Luzon Expressway to help speed up the movement of vehicles to and from the National Capital Region. —Carmela Reyes-Estrope

GUIGUINTO, BULACAN, Philippines — Motorists traveling between the National Capital Region (NCR) and provinces in central and northern Luzon can now expect smoother travel as the four-lane flyover of the Plaridel Bypass in Guiguinto town of Bulacan has opened.

Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan inaugurated on Thursday the 561-meter Guiguinto flyover of the Plaridel Bypass under the Japanese-funded Arterial Road Bypass Project (ARBP).

The completed structure is one of the three flyovers of the 24-kilometer Plaridel Bypass, which connects the North Luzon Expressway (NLEx) to the Maharlika Highway in San Rafael, Bulacan. The other two, the San Rafael and Bustos flyovers, have been serving motorists for around 10 years now.

READ: New flyover to reduce traffic in Bulacan town

The Plaridel Bypass, traversing the towns of Balagtas, Guiguinto, Plaridel, Bustos, and San Rafael, serves as a critical link between NLEx and Maharlika Highway to key areas in Bulacan, according to the DPWH.

Areas along the Plaridel Bypass are also the fastest-growing economic players in Bulacan mainly due to the huge number of businesses that have sprouted along both sides of the road.

The Guiguinto flyover is just about 300 meters from the Balagtas exit and entry toll of NLEx and is part of the newly widened 12.5-km road section under the third phase of the bypass project (ARBP 3). It involved the development of a 283.10-meter main bridge and the 138.66-m and 139.38-m approach spans. A concrete median barrier and solar-powered LED streetlights were also installed as additional safety features.

ARBP 3, costing P5.26 billion, was funded through a P4.25-billion loan from the Japanese government through the Japan International Cooperation Agency.

More efficient route

The Guiguinto flyover and widened road are expected to accommodate approximately 15,000 vehicles daily, reducing travel time across Bulacan, particularly those connecting to NLEx and Maharlika Highway.

Bonoan highlighted during Thursday’s event the importance of the flyover and its integration with the additional 11.65-km two-lane road, seven short bridges, farm animal crossings, and drainage facilities, all of which are under ARBP 3.

DWPH Senior Undersecretary Emel Sadain, who leads the DPWH’s infrastructure flagship projects, said during the event that completing the two new lanes under ARBP 3 will ease the southbound traffic.