CITY OF SAN FERNANDO — Deputy Speaker and Pampanga 3rd District Rep. Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales Jr. today expressed elation over the go signal given by the Toll Regulatory Board for the construction of the third viaduct along the North Luzon Expressway.
Gonzales, who has put forward the urgency to build the structure some seven years ago, said people of Central and North Luzon, as well as Metro Manila, should thank government and private agencies and stakeholders who worked hard to realize the project.
The TRB has issued a conditional notice to proceed (CNP) to NLEx Corp., the expressway’s concessionaire-operator, for the construction of the third bridge to begin even as modifications in the original designs are being reviewed.
An initial amount of P6 billion is allocated for the project to augment the existing 47-year-old bridges that have recently been retrofitted.
Gonzales recently met with the Department of Public Works and Highways, TRB and NLEx Corp. officials to convince them to join hands to make sure that the third viaduct is constructed while the original bridges are still passable.
He said while the two viaducts over the vast Candaba swamps have withstood the test of time, a strong earthquake or further wear-and-tear may compromise their integrity.
“The new bridge will give us the assurance that North Luzon will remain connected to Metro Manila whatever happens to the old spans,” he said.
NLEx Corp. plans to finish construction of the new bridge by end of next year. Gonzales said Rep. Anna York Bondoc-Sagum of Pampanga’s 4th District has also been active in pushing for the proposed infrastructure. The bridge straddles the towns of Pulilan in Bulacan, and Candaba and Apalit in Pampanga, which are both under Sagum’s district.
“Though these bridges are not part my district, my constituents and the people of Pampanga are among the many stakeholders who benefit from the continued operation of these viaducts, so I take it upon myself to work hard to see this project bear fruit,” Gonzales said. Punto News Team/PR
