The Pampanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. (PAMCHAM) urged Pampanga lawmakers to support calls for the construction of a 3rd viaduct along the Candaba portion of the North Luzon Expressway because delays in the repair of the two older viaducts will “negatively impact business productivity, weaken regional competitiveness, and delay countryside economic recovery.”
In a letter addressed to Pampanga lawmakers Jon Lazatin II (1st District), Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (2nd District), Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales Jr. (3rd District), and Anna York Bondoc (4th District), businessman Rene Romero, PAMCHAM Director-in-Charge of the Infrastructure Development Committee, said the construction of the “third viaduct deserves the same urgency as the repair of the two older viaducts.”
Romero has called on the four lawmakers to back the construction of a third viaduct to support the older ones. “It is in this regard that we request your assistance in urging NLEX to fasttrack its construction.”
“We also think that closer monitoring and regular maintenance of the bridges along the expressway is vital to preventing major structural damages like what we have now which impose unfair and undue sacrifice from motorists who pay premium toll fees, expecting and deserving no less than a fast, convenient, and stress-free travel via our expressways,” said Romero.
The structural integrity of the two older viaducts constructed 46 years ago had been compromised because of the heavy trucks such as quarry trucks that pass through it through the years. It will reportedly take two years before the ongoing repairs will be completed.
Romero urged the construction of the 3rd viaduct in the face of impending food crisis brought about by climate change. Outside forces or issues had been apparently affecting food production in the country evident with the shortages on sugar, onions, and so on.
During a meeting between PAMCHAM, the NLEX management presented its traffic management plans as it upgrades the 25 link slabs of the southbound lanes of the old viaduct. A more serious degradation of the structure was detected by the NLEX management.
The NLEX management has revealed plans to construct a 3rd viaduct in the middle of the two old viaducts, according to Romero.