Candaba Viaduct

The Candaba Viaduct (also known as Pulilan–Apalit Bridge) is a 5-kilometer (3.1 mi) viaduct carrying the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) across the Candaba Swamp in the provinces of Bulacan and Pampanga, Philippines. Consisting of six lanes (three northbound and three southbound), it is the longest bridge in the Philippines.[3] The viaduct was designed by Aas-Jakobsen[1] and built by Construction Development Corporation of the Philippines (CDCP, later renamed to Philippine National Construction Corporation) as part of construction of the whole NLEX.[2]

Candaba Viaduct
Candaba Viaduct in October 2019
Coordinates14°57′15″N 120°46′36″E
Carries6 lanes of E1 (North Luzon Expressway)
CrossesCandaba Swamps
Pampanga River
LocaleApalit, Pampanga
Calumpit, Bulacan
Pulilan, Bulacan
Official nameCandaba Viaduct
Other name(s)Pulilan-Apalit Bridge
Candaba Pampanga Viaduct (STA 46+938 - 52+188)
Maintained byManila North Tollways Corporation
Characteristics
DesignViaduct
MaterialConcrete, asphalt
Total length5 km (3.1 mi)
Width12 m (39 ft) per direction
Height15 m (49 ft 3 in)
No. of lanesSix-lane double carriageway (three lanes per direction)
History
DesignerAas-Jakobsen[1]
Constructed byPhilippine National Construction Corporation[2]
Construction start1974
Construction end1976
Opened1977
Statistics
TollSee NLEX toll matrix

Built in 1976, the bridge and the whole stretch of NLEX were constructed as a component project of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development through the direction of the Ministry of Public Highways.[2] The project was completed in 1977 and through Presidential Decree 1113, then President Ferdinand Marcos granted CDCP the franchise to maintain and operate the NLEX including the Candaba Viaduct.[4] On February 10, 2005, the operations and maintenance of the whole of NLEX were transferred to the Manila North Tollways Corporation.[5]

Overlooking Mount Arayat, the viaduct is raised over Candaba Swamp, which keeps the highway open to traffic, even when the swamp gets flooded during the rainy or monsoon season.[6] Lighting, emergency callboxes and CCTVs along the viaduct are powered by solar panels due to the problem of installing power lines within the viaduct.[7]

In February 2017, it was announced that Candaba Viaduct will be expanded and will have a third lane on both sides of the bridge.[8]

Route description
Candaba Viaduct before the 2017 expansion

The Candaba Viaduct passes over Candaba Swamp and adjacent Pampanga River and connects the provinces of Pampanga and Bulacan. [3] Most of its portions are lined with billboards, ricefields, and some trees. The Hermosa–Duhat–Balintawak transmission line of National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) utilizes the western side of the viaduct since March 2011 as the line's San Simon–Pulilan segment is relocated due to the widening of MacArthur Highway, where the steel poles posed a safety hazard. The Hermosa–San Jose 500,000-volt line, which also belong to NGCP and currently under construction, is visible from the viaduct.

The viaduct starts at Barangay Dulong Malabon in Pulilan where there are a few houses located under it and after a few meters, it enters the municipality of Calumpit. It enters Pampanga (Apalit) upon approaching a lay-by located before passing an area with palm trees, continues a straight route, and passes through Pampanga River, where its parish church is visible from the road. A footbridge is located on its southbound lane. The bridge ends after crossing Pampanga River.

See also

References
  1. "Candaba Viaduct". Structurae. Retrieved March 2, 2017.
  2. "PNCC PROJECTS". Philippine National Construction Corporation. Retrieved March 2, 2017.
  3. "Bridges for Development". BusinessWorld. August 30, 2016. Retrieved March 2, 2017.
  4. "P.D. No. 1113". www.lawphil.net. Retrieved March 2, 2017.
  5. "PNCC::dot::Ph : OUR BUSINESS". www.pncc.ph. Philippine National Construction Corporation. Retrieved March 2, 2017.
  6. "How to prepare for our future climate". World Economic Forum. May 20, 2014. Retrieved March 2, 2017.
  7. Remo, Amy R. (August 9, 2011). "Solar-powered lamp posts eyed for NLEx". business.inquirer.net. Retrieved March 3, 2017.
  8. "P2.6b Nlex expansion in the offing". Manila Standard. February 23, 2017. Retrieved March 3, 2017.

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