NLEX Corporation, the builder-concessionaire and operator of North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) and Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX), announced that NLEX and SCTEX are now safe to use despite of some pavement cracks observed in bridge approaches along SCTEX, following the 6.1-magnitude earthquake that seriously affected Pampanga and other parts of Central Luzon last April 22.

According to NLEX Corporation, results showed that there was no major structural damage found in NLEX-SCTEX bridges and slopes, but there were cracks and deformations on pavements and bridge expansion joints that need immediate repairs.

In a post-earthquake assessment conducted by NLEX and its engineering consultant AMH Philippines, the bridges (both NLEX-SCTEX) performed and behaved well and that the cracks and deformations are evidently within anticipated range of the design assumptions. Repairs will be implemented for NLEX and SCTEX structures that sustained defects to ensure the riding comfort of motorists traversing the expressways.

In a press statement, Luigi Bautista, President and General Manager of NLEX Corporation, said, “To ensure the comfort of our motorists, damaged pavements will be replaced and distorted posts as well as bridge expansion joints will be repaired.”

“Immediately after the earthquake, our incident response teams were deployed to inspect all our infrastructure facilities and assure the safety of the public plying our expressways,” explained Bautista.

Meanwhile, Four bridges in SCTEX Porac—Pasig-Potrero, Babo Pangulo, Planas, and Porac—and two bridges in SCTEX Floridablanca—Caulaman and Gumain—bore pavement cracks while steel plates and expansion joints became uneven. Some median concrete toppings in the said areas were also broken.

In the NLEX side, a few light and sign posts along Candaba Viaduct and Dau and Sta. Ines interchanges had noticeably leaned.

The chief executive said that their structures, including those elevated ones, were designed and built in such a way that they do not collapse during an earthquake. He also points out that the NLEX Harbor Link Segment 10, the elevated expressway from Karuhatan, Valenzuela City to Caloocan Interchange in C3, Caloocan City, is earthquake-resistant and can withstand high magnitude quakes.