The new 600-meter Balagtas Northbound Entry along the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) in Bulacan is now open to motorists.
A joint project of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and NLEX Corporation, the new entry road, which officially opened on August 23, provides direct access for motorists coming from Balagtas Interchange going to NLEX northbound, bypassing local roads and Sta. Rita Interchange in Guiguinto, Bulacan.
“The Balagtas Northbound Entry, which started construction early this year, is part of the government’s road network improvement plan aimed at easing traffic congestion and bringing more investments in Central Luzon,” Public Works Secretary Mark Villar said in a statement.
In 2012, NLEX opened the Balagtas Interchange, which is linked to the DPWH-built Plaridel Bypass Road. “This new gateway to the north signifies Metro Pacific’s commitment to enhance countryside development and make travel easier and more comfortable for everyone,” Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC) president and chief executive officer Rodrigo Franco pointed out. NLEX Corp. is a unit under MPTC.
NLEX Corp. president and general manager Luigi Bautista said the new road is expected to improve mobility and productivity, especially for those coming from Balagtas and those using the Plaridel Bypass from Guiguinto, Plaridel, Bustos, and Baliuag.
DPWH Region III director Roseller Tolentino said the department prioritizes infrastructure projects like this to fully tap the potentials of Bulacan province, which in turn will further spur development in the region.
Investors cite Bulacan as the next growth hub amid upcoming major infrastructure projects in the province. It is also instrumental in the thriving economy of Central Luzon, which remains one of the significant contributors to the country’s overall growth.
For his part, Bulacan 2nd district representative Gavini Pancho noted that the new Balagtas Northbound Entry will not only facilitate ease of travel, but more importantly, it will open doors of opportunities for local businesses.
Aside from the Balagtas Northbound Entry, a new Tambubong Interchange in Bocaue, Bulacan is underway to enhance the Bulacan road network and help alleviate heavy traffic conditions at the Bocaue Interchange. A southbound entry and a northbound entry and exit toll plazas will be constructed in Brgy. Tambubong to serve as an alternative route for motorists bound for Sta. Maria and Pandi in Bulacan and nearby towns.
