The situation on NLEX during the long payday weekend was severe, with heavy rains causing the Pampanga River to rise and flooding the San Simon section of the expressway.

The flooding brought traffic along this major Luzon artery to a standstill, leaving many motorists stranded for hours. The severity of the situation even prompted jokes online about motorists entering NLEX in August and only getting out in September. While clearly an exaggeration, the joke reflected the frustration of those caught in the gridlock.

With the disruption affecting thousands of motorists, as well as the movement of essential goods, questions were raised about the preparedness and flood mitigation measures in the area. Some have pointed to NLEX Corporation’s previous plans to raise the San Simon section, while others have raised broader concerns about flood control efforts in Pampanga.

To clarify what happened and what motorists can expect moving forward, we asked NLEX Corporation to respond to the concerns surrounding the San Simon section and its plans for the area.

What happened to the planned elevation of the San Simon section?

A 2023 NLEX Corporation announcement has gained renewed attention following the recent gridlock. The announcement said the company would elevate the San Simon section to help keep the tollway operational during flooding.

NLEX Corporation said it did raise the San Simon section under the Tulaoc Bridge in October 2023, following flooding that year. However, the road could not be raised by the originally planned 1 meter because of the clearance under the Tulaoc Bridge.

The elevation was therefore limited to just 0.7 meter, or around 2 feet. With the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) having since completed the elevation of the bridge, NLEX Corporation said it is now looking at raising the pavement by an additional 0.3 meter, or around 1 foot.

NLEX Corporation also pointed out that the section did not experience flooding after the initial 0.7-meter elevation until the recent incident.

A screenshot from our very own Vince Pornelos’ NLEX ordeal.

Temporary bypass, rerouting and traffic management

Another question is what traffic management measures will be implemented if the elevation works resume.

The question goes beyond the current rerouting of motorists through the Balagtas or Sta. Rita exits. We asked NLEX Corporation if it is considering temporary measures that could allow traffic to continue moving while construction is underway, such as a temporary traffic bridge or flyover, a causeway, or a zipper lane.

NLEX Corporation previously used a temporary mobile flyover during the rehabilitation of the 5-kilometer Candaba Viaduct.

The company said it would implement the necessary measures if rerouting or traffic adjustments are required during the elevation works.

“Yes. If rerouting or traffic adjustments are needed during the elevation works, we will implement the necessary traffic management measures and provide motorists with timely advisories through our official social media channels.”

NLEX Corporation said details regarding the elevation works, including the timeline and allocated budget, will be shared once plans are finalized. 

For now, motorists using this section of NLEX will have to continue monitoring weather conditions and traffic advisories, particularly when heavy rains are expected in the area.