MALOLOS CITY (PIA) -- The Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) reaffirmed its commitment to the public that the 3rd Candaba Viaduct will be completed by November 2024.

Spanning five kilometers, the infrastructure is situated between two existing bridges connecting the towns of Pulilan in Bulacan and Apalit in Pampanga.

TRB Executive Director Alvin Carullo cited the report of North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) Corporation that the project is now 50 percent complete.

“The installation of the first girders in the first two spans in the Pulilan section signifies the project’s halfway mark and the start of the pivotal transition from groundwork-heavy construction to road-level work,” he said.

A total of 1,028 girders are scheduled to be installed in the whole stretch of the viaduct.

The construction of posts and the drilling of foundations are likewise in full swing in the Apalit portion.

Meanwhile, NLEX Corporation President and General Manager Luigi Bautista recognized the vital role of construction partners from Australia and the Philippines in speeding up civil works while ensuring the quality and integrity of the new structure as well as the safety of construction workers.

The P8 billion project is being built by Australian firm Leighton Construction Asia Limited with its local partner subcontractor Megawide Corporation.

Once completed, the Candaba Viaduct will be widened to three lanes with inner and outer shoulders in each direction, thereby enhancing safety and mobility for motorists.

The inner lane in both directions will be used for trucks and buses while the old and original structure will be the assigned lanes for light vehicles. (CLJD/SFV-PIA 3)