PULILAN, Bulacan — House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez led the groundbreaking of the new five-kilometer Candaba 3rd Viaduct between the provinces of Pampanga and Bulacan on Wednesday (June 21) held in Barangay Dulong Bayan here.
According to Romualdez, this new viaduct will further improve the safety as well as mobility of motorists.
“It will certify the determination and enhance economic development and going better the lives of our people,” the Speaker of the House said.
“Ang tambalang pamahalaan at ng private sector na maisaayos ang mga national road ay simbolo ng magandang progreso na magpapataas pa ng ekonomiys ng bansa dahil sa maluwag at maayos na daanan ng mga mangngalakal,” Romualdez added.
NLEX Corp. President J. Luigi L. Bautista on the other hand said that we are all familiar with the Candaba Viaduct, a bridge structure that has been servicing the motoring public who travels between Metro Manila and the provinces in Central and North Luzon for over 50 years.
“The northbound direction of the viaduct was constructed between [1974 and 1977] while the southbound portion was designed and constructed between [1977 and 1985]. But despite its age, the Viaduct has continued to be an efficient link between North and Central Luzon to Metro Manila and South Luzon. And through the 50 years, we have witnessed how the viaduct withstood the strong typhoons, floods, earthquakes, and other challenging external events,” Bautista added.
He added that once completed, we expect that the average speed for those traversing the viaduct will increase to 60-80 kph from the current 40-60 kph.
On his part, the new MPTC president Rogelio L. Singson said that targeted completion by November 2024, this P7.89-billion structure entails the construction of a new bridge in the middle of the two existing viaducts.
“Of course, this legacy infrastructure project will not be possible without the support and cooperation of our valued partners: the Department of Transportation, the Department of Public Works and Highways, the Toll Regulatory Board, and the local governments of Pampanga and Bulacan. Please accept our sincerest thanks to all of you,” Singson added.
Aside from Romualdez, Singson, and Bautista, also gracing the event were Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales, Cong. Carmelo Lazatin II, TRB Executive Director Alvin Carullo, Pampanga Gov. Dennis Pineda, DPWH Region 3 Director Roseller Tolentino, vice Gov. Alex Castro, Calumpit, Bulacan Mayor Glorime Faustino, other Pampanga and Bulacan public officials. (UnliNews Online)
