Motorists heading to Central Luzon and beyond may want to carry with them extra patience for the next several weeks. This comes after NLEX Corporation shared that the bridge in Marilao Interchange in Bulacan was damaged after a truck exceeded the vertical clearance with its tall cargo and hit the infrastructure.

The resulting impact caused several girders of the bridge to be damaged significantly and they will need replacing. Unfortunately for motorists who have been traveling along the expressway, that means several closed lanes as NLEX Corporation repairs the interchange which could take two to three weeks.

“It will take between two to three weeks to complete the restoration,” said Robin Ignacio, NLEX Senior Manager for Traffic Operations.

During rush hour traffic, Ignacio mentioned that slow-moving traffic up to 8 km long can be observed along the expressway near the Marilao Bridge Interchange. The executive also mentioned that NLEX Corporation had already worked with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the LGU of Marilao to address the reduced vertical clearance of the said interchange due to years of asphalt overlays. Unfortunately, both the DPWH and the Marilao LGU denied responsibility for the Marilao Interchange Bridge.

“We have been trying to coordinate with DPWH years ago, but they just pointed their finger at the LGU. That’s why we have also tried to coordinate with the LGU but they don’t want to have jurisdiction [over Marilao Interchange Bridge],” added Ignacio.

NLEX Corporation has advised motorists to take alternate routes amid the ongoing bridge repair which the company says will be conducted 24/7 to hasten its completion.

For motorists from Bulacan/Pampanga heading to Manila, they can take the NLEX Bocaue Southbound Interchange Exit or NLEX CDV Southbound Exit and then turn right to McArthur Highway. They can then re-enter the expressway via NLEX Meycauayan Southbound.

On the other hand, motorists heading to Bulacan/Pampanga can take the NLEX Karuhatan Exit via the NLEX Harbor Link Interchange, NLEX Paso De Blas Northbound Exit, or NLEX Meycauayan Northbound Exit going to McArthur Highway. Afterward, motorists can re-enter the expressway via the NLEX Bocaue Interchange.

The recent incident has caught the attention of Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Vince Dizon who demanded that NLEX Corporation waive toll fees along affected segments. He also ordered that repairs be finished in one week which is shorter than the tollway operator's estimates.