NLEx dredges, widens 20 km of Pampanga rivers to curb flooding

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO — The North Luzon Expressway (NLEx) Corp. has dredged and widened around 20 kilometers of three rivers in Pampanga province as part of efforts to prevent floods and slow traffic on the toll road.

NLEx Corp. president and general manager Luis Reñon provided the update during a briefing with Pampanga Gov. Lilia Pineda and Vice Gov. Dennis Pineda at the provincial capitol on Monday, Oct. 12.

Dredging and widening works covered the stretches of the Tulaoc and Pankiyari rivers in San Simon town and Pau River in Santo Tomas town since September when monsoons rains and typhoons caused widespread and prolonged flooding, he said in an interview..

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The project began in late August when floods inundated the south and north lanes, snarling traffic by 10 to 12 hours.  NLEx was also severely flooded in 2023.

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READ: Pampanga town holds key to NLEx’s battle with flood

“We are going to continue dredging and widening toward the Manila Bay with the help of San Miguel Corp. at the request of Vice Gov. [Pineda],” Reñon said.

The NLEx Corp. is installing sheet piles on river banks and constructing water detention facilities on shoulders to prevent water from spilling  to the toll road, he added.

Reñon said the NLEx Corp. will also raise the level of the toll road following the raising of the Tulaoc bridge by a contractor of the Department of Public Works and Highways.

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The vice governor has led a technical working group that is undertaking a survey of the original width of rivers draining to the Manila Bay.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had approved the construction of sabo dams in Nueva Ecija to slow down the flow of water from Sierra Madre to the Pampanga River that drains to Manila Bay. /das