By Betheena Kae Unite
An overpass bridge and an access road that will connect the North Luzon Expressway and the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan are expected to be completed in time for the 30 th Southeast Asian Games in late November.
Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar (FACEBOOK / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar said that the construction of the Ciudad De Victoria Interchange Overpass Bridge and Bypass Road is being fast-tracked in time for the opening of the biennial meet that will be hosted by the Philippines from November 30 to December 11.
The opening ceremony of the SEAG will be staged at the Philippine Arena on November 30.
The twin projects, according to Villar, will provide direct access to the Philippine Arena from the expressway as a huge turnout of visitors are expected to flock the venue during the multi-sports event.
At present, all girders for the 80-lineal meter overpass bridge crossing NLEX have been completely installed while the round-the-clock construction works have been enforced for the 1.12-kilometer, four-lane bypass road connecting the Manila North Road and the Sta. Maria to Bocaue By-pass Road.
Once these infrastructures are completed, better accessibility to the Philippine Arena come SEA Games grand opening in November is expected.
According to the department, the P260.8-million Ciudad De Victoria Interchange Overpass bridge is also “envisioned to serve as an alternative road to the heavily congested Governor F. Halili Road in Sta. Maria, Bulacan.” It will also address the usual heavy traffic situation and queuing of vehicles entering the Bocaue interchange.
Projects beyond SEA Games
It also bared the agency’s plan to add more lanes on both directions of the bypass road in an attempt to alleviate traffic congestion on Governor F. Halili Ave. in Sta. Maria, Bulacan.
In partnership with NLEX Corporation the on-going second phase of the Ciudad De Victoria Interchange Project involves the construction of the southbound acceleration and deceleration lanes for vehicles going to Philippine Arena, Villar said.
“Eventually, a 1.91-kilometer road from MacArthur Highway to Bocaue Municipal will be improved and a 1.3-kilometer road from the Philippine Arena to the existing Patubig Road in Marilao, Bulacan will be constructed,” he added.
Meanwhile, the growing number of vehicles passing through the Bocaue Interchange prompted the construction of a southbound entry and northbound entry and exit toll plazas in Barangay Tambubong, Bocaue. A total of P79 million will be spent for the completion of the project.
