CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – Governor Dennis “Delta” Pineda is requesting the NLEX Corp. for a status quo on the 33-ton weight limit along the expressway for heavy trucks and their use of alternate routes.
NLEX earlier issued an advisory that effective July 11, trucks with 12 or more wheels and gross vehicle weight (GVW) greater than 33 tons will be rerouted to the Candaba Viaduct Southbound Upgrade.
With this, the Governor wants to bring the issue besetting the repair of the southbound portion of the Candaba Viaduct along the NLEX to the national government.
“Bigyan po muna nila ng linaw, hindi po puwedeng walang papasukin na truck sa NLEX, especially trailers, tapos padadaanin nila sa maliliit na daan sa probinsya. It will cause a problem sa economy po. Kung magpapatupad po ng kung ano ang dapat na timbang, mas mabuti kung ang mismong national government ang mag-anunsyo para alam ng lahat na tataas ang presyo ng goods,” said the governor.
He furthered that the corporation should also impose the 33-ton limit of the GVW in the whole stretch of NLEX, not only along the Candaba Viaduct.
In Friday’s dialogue with the NLEX Corp., the governor said he also wants the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to be involved in determining the appropriate weight limit.
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), meanwhile, should be involved in setting the prices of commodities resulting from the longer routes and additional cost of fuel.
JJ Go, vice president of the NLEX Corp. Asset Management Division, stressed that many motorists would be affected if the Candaba Viaduct connecting Bulacan to Pampanga, and Pampanga to Bulacan and National Capital Region (NCR) is not protected.
“Lahat ng pasok from 0 to 33 tons, puwedeng-puwede naman pong dumaan at kakayanin naman ng Southbound. Except kapag excessive na or beyond 33 tons, do’n lang po tayo magda-divert para maiwasan ang pagkagiba ng daan at masiguro ang kaligtasan ng mga motorista,” she said.
She added the corporation should immediately implement the imposition of the weight limit of vehicles traversing along the viaduct to be able to complete the repair within two years.
Initially, the corporation provided two (2) alternative routes for heavy trucks that do not meet the guidelines.
Trucks traveling from the cities of Angeles and San Fernando shall take the Olongapo-Gapan Road, which passes through Mexico, Sta. Ana, Arayat in Pampanga and Cabiao, San Isidro, and Gapan in Nueva Ecija. They shall turn right out of Gapan onto the Maharlika Highway, passing through San Miguel, San Ildefonso, and San Rafael in Bulacan. They shall then turn left onto Plaridel Bypass Road and enter NLEX at the Balagtas Interchange.
Trucks from Mabalacat City, on the other hand, shall use the Mabalacat-Magalang Road. They shall turn right out of Magalang onto the Magalang-Arayat Road and take the Olongapo-Gapan Road from Arayat to Cabiao, San Isidro, and Gapan in NuevaEcija. They shall turn right out of Gapan onto the Maharlika Highway, passing through San Miguel, San Ildefonso, and San Rafael, and shall then turn left onto Plaridel Bypass Road.
It was also disclosed during the meeting that the NLEX Corp. is set to construct a third viaduct in between the Northbound and Southbound portions of the Candaba Viaduct, expected to be completed in 2024.
Rene Romero, private sector representative of the Regional Development Council (RDC), recommended the construction of a third road below the viaduct.
Haulers urged the strict implementation of the anti-overloading law.
