DPWH Speeds Up the Construction of Interchange Leading Philippine Arena for Sea Games Opening

An interchange project with road access connected to the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) in Bocaue, Bulacan will be completed by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in time for the Philippines hosting of the 30th edition of Southeast Asian (SEA) Games from November 30 to December 11, 2019.

Secretary Mark A. Villar said that being rushed for completion is the Ciudad De Victoria Interchange Overpass Bridge and Bypass Road to provide direct access to the Philippine Arena. Huge turnout of visitors are expected at the opening ceremony of the biennial regional multi-sport event on November 30, 2019.

With all girders for the 80 lineal meters overpass bridge crossing NLEX completely installed and the round-the-clock construction works for a 1.12 kilometer 4-lane bypass road connecting the Manila North Road and the Sta. Maria to Bocaue By-pass Road as part of the Ciudad De Victoria Interchange Project Phase 1, we will have better accessibility to Philippine Arena come SEA Games grand opening in November, said Villar.

The P260.8 Million Ciudad De Victoria Interchange Overpass bridge implemented by the DPWH Regional Office 3 headed by Regional Director Roseller Tolentino is envisioned to serve as an alternate road to the heavily congested Governor F. Halili Road in Sta. Maria, Bulacan. This will also address the usual heavy traffic situation and queuing of vehicles entering the Bocaue interchange.

To increase capacity to two-lane per direction and help alleviate traffic congestion along Governor F. Halili, the construction of additional lanes of the bridge structure at Bocaue Interchange is also on-going.

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.

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.

With the booming industries in the towns of Bocaue, Sta. Maria, and nearby areas in the Province of Bulacan and the proposed construction of an international airport which contribute to the growing number of vehicles passing through the Bocaue Interchange, a southbound entry as well as northbound entry and exit toll plazas are being constructed at Barangay Tambubong, Bocaue.

Villar said that the NLEX Tambubong Entrance/Exit Project of DPWH Region 3 and NLEX Corporation involves the construction of 3 connecting ramps with a 20 meters average width on NLEX northbound entry with a length of 180.00 meters, 240.14 meters northbound exit, and 290 meters southbound entry.

The Tambubong NLEX entry/exit project funded in the amount of P79 Million will reduce travel time and facilitates the opening up of more business opportunities for the Bulakeños, added Villar. (DPWH PR)