BALAGTAS, BULACAN — Bulacan local officials and the Department of Public Works and Highways led the groundbreaking ceremony of the more than P50 million North bound lane entry on Balagtas exit along the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) on Tuesday that will further boost the active economic activities in Bulacan and the rest of Central Luzon.
The 300 meters road entry from Balagtas exit till gate to the north bound lane of NLEX will give an ease travel bound to the north and Central Luzon areas not only to the motorists and people of Balagtas but adjacent other towns from the second and third district of Bulacan as well as the provinces of Nueva Ecija, Cabanatuan City and Aurora, says project proponent 2nd District Rep. Apol Pancho.
CONG. APOL PANCHO
Pancho who said the project is under the Build Build Build program of President Rodrigo Ria Duterte sought the cooperation of Manila North Tollways Corp and NLEX Corp and the Land Transportation Regulatory Board for the project to push through.
The budget was through his funds.
Balagtas Mayor Eladio Gonzales said for so long, they have to suffer the very tight traffic in Bocaue and Sta Rita in Guiguinto toll gate just to go north direction along the NLEX.
But since Bocaue toll gate is severely clogged almost at all times round the clock, Balagtas town motorists would resort making entry to Marilao, Guiguinto or Valenzuela areas.
DPWH First District Engineering Office head Engr. Ruel Angeles said the project will be completed in six months time and targets to open for the motorists by June 2019.
Pancho said all his constituents in the towns of Balagtas, Pandi, Bocaue, Guiguinto, Plaridel, Bustos and Baliwag and even from the third district that is being served by the Plaridel Bypass Road will also highly benefit in the project.
Cong. Apol Pancho (left) with Balagtas Mayor Eladio Gonzales Jr (right) and DPWH First District Engineer Engr. Ruel Angeles during the groundbreaking. –Photo By ERICK SILVERIO
Balagtas exit along the NLEX is the entry point itself to the Plaridel Bypass Road that connects NLEX to the third district and areas bound to Nueva Ecija.
Pancho said the project is supposed to cost P50-Million but the P17-Million worth on the NLEX portion was shouldered by the MNTC/NLEX Corp.
Second part of the project, Angeles said is the construction of a direct access to Balagtas exit coming from the North lanes of NLEX.
Until today, motorists travelling along the north bound lane of NLEX who would take Balagtas exit have to take Bocaue toll gate.
Pancho said they target to ground break the second part by first quarter of 2019.