Repair of Marilao Interchange Bridge may take 2 to 3 weeks — NLEx exec
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MANILA, Philippines — The repair of the Marilao Interchange Bridge will take about two to three weeks after sustaining damage due to a road mishap, a North Luzon Expressway (NLEx) and Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx) official said on Wednesday.
NLEx and SCTEx Traffic Operations Department Head Robin Ignacio said that their Asset Management Division and contractors have assessed the situation and started repair works within the area.
“Ang gawaan po ay ineexpect po na between two to three weeks po. Kailangan po talagang madaliin ito. Bago mag Holy Week ay maayos na nadadaanan lahat ng lanes natin,” Ignacio said in an interview with Radyo 630.
(The repair is expected between two to three weeks. We need to speed this up. All of our lanes will be passable before Holy Week.)
He added that the management put show rings within lanes two and three to ensure safety while repair works are underway.
He also shared that slow moving traffic is expected in both directions of NLEx during the rush hour on Thursday.
NLEx Corporation on Wednesday reported that a road crash involving two trucks occurred at the Marilao Interchange Bridge. This prompted the emergency closure of the bridge.
READ: Road mishap prompts closure of Marilao Interchange Bridge lanes
Ignacio mentioned that an 18-wheeler truck involved in the incident came from the port area and passed through the Karuhatan toll plaza in Valenzuela City. He said that the truck did not pass through the designated truck lane.
He said that while traffic personnel were deployed in the expressway to monitor the movement of trucks, the truck was not monitored when it passed through the NLEx.
When asked of the management’s plans to avoid the repetition of the incident, Ignacio said that they are strengthening their information campaign and coordination with truck drivers.
“Bagamat yun pong deployment na dedicated na tao papasok sa expressway ay kailangan madagdagan, ang asset, pagtao-tao, may faulty error. Napakainam na mayroong cooperation ng truckers at truck owners,” he noted.
(While the deployment of personnel inside the expressway needs to be increased, the assets have faulty error. It’s good to have cooperation with truckers and truck owners.)
The NLEx Corporation also found out that “two of the bridge girders sustained severe damage from the impact.” It added that while they have been “temporarily supported for safety, they will need to be completely replaced.”
It noted that middle lanes in the northbound direction (lanes 2 and 3) will remain temporarily closed.
READ: NLEx toll hike effective March 2 — TRB
Meanwhile, NLEx’ traffic update as of 12:10 p.m. said that only Class 1 vehicles are allowed to pass through Marilao Interchange Bridge (going to MacArthur Highway and San Jose del Monte), while Class 2 and 3 vehicles are temporarily barred from using the bridge.
Approximately five to 10 kilometers per hour (kph) of running speed is expected along NLEx Harbor Link Interchange to Marilao northbound. Zipper lane is open at Torres Bugallon, Valenzuela after Marilao Interchange.
There is also an approximate 2.5 km of traffic build up along NLEx Harbor Link Interchange (going Mindanao exit or NLEx Northbound).
The leftmost lane (Lane 1) is being used as a zipper lane while three lanes are passable in Tambubong, Bocaue to Marilao southbound. Approximately five to 10kph of running speed is expected.
