NLEX Candaba 3rd Viaduct Nears Completion


by Eloisa Samonte-Silverio

The NLEX Candaba 3rd Viaduct project is making steady progress, with construction now 92% complete and on track to meet the target completion date in November. 

NLEX Corporation President and General Manager, J. Luigi L. Bautista, enthusiastically looks forward to its upcoming completion and extended gratitude to everyone involved, from the workers on the ground, to government partners. 

Candaba 3rd Viaduct Zone 1

Bautista said “The Candaba 3rd Viaduct project reflects our commitment to enhancing travel convenience and safety for motorists. We are thrilled to provide a safer and more efficient travel experience ahead of the holiday rush.. We are grateful to all our partners, both in the private and public sectors, for their commitment to and support for this project.” 

The tollway company divided the project into three zones to ensure timely completion. Zone 1 or the Pulilan portion was completed last August, while zones 2 and 3, covering the Apalit area, are set to be finished by September and November, respectively. 
 
It was learned that for over 40 years, the Candaba Viaduct has been a crucial link between Pulilan in Bulacan and Apalit in Pampanga, with its two existing bridges catering to northbound and southbound motorists. 
 
The construction of the 3rd Viaduct, positioned between the two existing bridges, is part of NLEX’s broader initiative to enhance this vital infrastructure’s expressway serviceability, safety, and reliability. 
 
In addition to the Candaba 3rd Viaduct, other projects are lined up or underway in the province of Pampanga to improve travel experiences for expressway users and help decongest local roads, contributing to the province’s overall progress. 
 
These include the NLEX Segment 3 Widening project that expands the road capacity of NLEX  San Fernando to SCTEX Spur in Mabalacat, Pampanga. 
 
Scheduled to start in the first quarter of 2025, this expansion will increase the expressway’s capacity from 2 lanes to 3 lanes in each direction, providing faster and more seamless travel. 
 
The project also includes the installation of roadway lighting from NLEX San Fernando to Sta. Ines, Mabalacat for enhanced safety, and the expansion of the Mexico Interchange to accommodate the growing volume of vehicles in the area. 
 
The DPWH’s Sto. Tomas Interchange project, currently under construction between San Simon and San Fernando in Pampanga, will also help decongest major roads such as Jose Abad Santos Avenue (JASA) and Olongapo-Gapan road by bringing NLEX closer to the towns in the west. 
 
While this is a DPWH project, its completion and subsequent operation and maintenance will be a collaborative effort of the DPWH, TRB, and NLEX Corporation with the support of the Sto. Tomas LGU and the 4th District of Pampanga. 
 
The construction remains on track for its target completion in the fourth quarter of 2025. 
 
Through these initiatives, the tollway company reaffirms its strong commitment to enhancing mobility for motorists and commuters while contributing to the government’s nation-building efforts. 
 
NLEX Corporation is a subsidiary of the Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC), the toll road arm of the Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC).
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