NLEX pavement elevation works on San Simon starts Sept 23

Flood-prone portion of NLEX to be elevated starting Saturday, September 23

Big bike riders coming from Metro Manila and the south should brace themselves for heavy traffic this weekend if you’re riding north. NLEX Corporation has announced that the construction works to elevate this portion of NLEX will start this coming Saturday, September 23, 2023.

Targeted for completion before the year ends, the tollway company will work 24/7 to ensure the pavement raising project under the Tulaoc overpass will be completed on schedule. This is to ensure minimum traffic disruption for the motorists’ convenience.

“We will do our best to accelerate the completion of the project to enable our motorists to immediately enjoy faster and safer travel in the area in any weather condition,” said NLEX Corporation President Luigi Bautista.

Starting at the northbound direction, NLEX assures that two lanes per direction will be available for motorists during the construction works. A counterflow will be opened at the opposite direction to ensure seamless travel for motorists despite the lane closures. The same traffic management scheme will be applied to the southbound direction once the works at the northbound portion are done.

The tollway company is advising motorists to plan their trips and expect heavy volume of traffic during the pavement raising. “We would like to remind our motorists to expect a high volume of traffic in the area once the project starts. While this may cause temporary inconvenience for our motorists, the long-term benefit of a flood-free road will be experienced once we fully complete the elevation of this San Simon area,” Bautista added.

NLEX has coordinated with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and concerned local government units to provide alternative routes for motorists in case traffic congestion is experienced.

Since August, NLEX has been undertaking preliminary works under the Tulaoc overpass in San Simon in preparation for the construction of the project, which includes the completion of the detailed engineering design for the pavement raising of both the north and south bounds.

Apart from elevating the 200-meter portion by 0.7 meter, NLEX plans to add another 0.3 meter on the pavement once the raising of the Tulaoc overpass by DPWH is completed, raising the portion by a total of 1 meter.

To minimize traffic slowdowns and provide immediate roadside assistance, the tollway company will implement the following traffic management scheme: deployment of patrol crews and traffic marshals, installation of traffic signs in strategic locations, and posting of regular traffic updates on electronic variable message signs and social media accounts.