NLEX conducts major repairs of Pampanga bridges
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – Two bridges in Pampanga are undergoing major repairs as part of NLEX Corporation’s continuing effort to ensure the safety of motorists.
The NLEX San Matias bridge in Sto. Tomas and the SCTEX Pasig-Potrero bridge in Porac are undergoing upgrading and strengthening, according to NLEX Corporation President and General Manager J. Luigi L. Bautista.
“Just like the other bridges along the NLEX-SCTEX network, San Matias and Pasig-Potrero are essential in facilitating ease of travel and efficient delivery of commodities. We are doing the necessary repairs as part of our commitment to keep our assets in good condition and more importantly, provide motorists with a safe and smooth expressway experience,” Bautista said.
The 80-meter San Matias bridge is located between San Fernando and San Simon interchanges. At its southbound portion, the two link slabs that connect bridge deck spans are being replaced to improve safety. The upgrading works also entail the enhancement of the bridge support and deck surface.
Targeted for completion within one month, the works at the San Matias bridge require occasional lane closures. The project also involves the use of a Bailey bridge to allow Class 1 and 2 vehicles (cars, vans, small trucks, and buses) to cross over the link slab repair site. A counterflow lane is also open at the northbound carriageway to accommodate Class 3 vehicles or big trucks.
The 720-meter Pasig-Potrero bridge, which serves as a vital link between Subic and Clark, is also being strengthened as the sand surrounding the piers have diminished due to quarrying operations, which has then affected the bridge’s structure.
To improve the bridge’s serviceability and protect its structure, sheet piles and gabions are being installed. Sheet piles are steel sheets that are connected together while gabions are stone-filled wire baskets, both of which are used to form a retaining wall to support the piers.
Work at the Pasig-Potrero bridge is expected to be completed within the second quarter of the year.
Apart from the said bridges, the tollway company is also continuously rehabilitating the five-kilometer Candaba Viaduct. At present, the girders and slabs are being upgraded to further ensure safety.
Last year, the Meycauayan and Bigaa bridges in Bulacan were rehabilitated while the Porac and Gumain bridges in Pampanga underwent safety repairs.
NLEX Corporation is a subsidiary of the Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC), the toll road arm of the Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC).
