The management of NLEx Corp., the tollway company of Manny Pangilinan-led Metro Pacific Investments Corp., said the reconstruction of the damaged Marilao Interchange Bridge should be completed by the end of March.

“The target for the completion of the repair is by the end of March. By that time, this will be opened. The damaged portion is the two horizontal metal beams, which were cut already. A fabricated metal beam was temporarily placed to support the structure of the bridge,” said Robin Ignacio, assistant vice president of Traffic Operations at NLEx, in a radio interview on Saturday.

He said as of Saturday morning, no lanes were closed as the flow of traffic is currently manageable and light.

“The costs of repair are worth millions of pesos, and NLEx Corp. will shoulder that. We will also look into the possibility of recovering some amount from the trucking company that caused the damage,” he added.

The Marilao Interchange bridge was rammed early Wednesday by an 18-wheeler over-height truck, triggering lane closures and heavy traffic congestion.

With this, Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon, on Friday, demanded NLEx to waive toll fees on the northbound stretch between Balintawak and Marilao, and called for the expedited repairs of the said bridge, stating that it was unfair for motorists to pay the full toll while experiencing hours of traffic delays.

Logistics companies urged to be cautious

Meanwhile, Ang Probinsyano Partylist Representative Alfred Delos Santos on Saturday called out truck companies and logistics providers to be cautious and strictly observe load and height limits.

“I appeal to all truck operators and logistics providers to strictly observe load and height limits. What happened in Marilao could have been avoided. Road safety and quick repairs should be a shared effort between the government and the private sector,” the solon said in a statement sent to the DAILY TRIBUNE.

In addition, Delos Santos urged the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to conduct a nationwide review and simplification of traffic signs, noting that the accident, which severely compromised two girders of the bridge, highlights the urgent need to reassess the clarity, design, and comprehension of road safety signs — particularly those related to height and load restrictions.

He said a recent study revealed alarming results regarding how some traffic signs are poorly understood by Filipino motorists and pedestrians in the country.

“Our traffic signs are meant to save lives, not confuse road users. We need to revisit our standards and prioritize clarity, familiarity, and function in every sign we place on our roads,” said Delos Santos.

In the study, the comprehension of the 73 existing traffic signs in Metro Manila was tested among 60 Filipinos (half drivers, half non-drivers) using a matching-based comprehension test.

Results showed that 27 of the 73 signs failed to meet the 67 percent comprehension accuracy required by international standards (ISO 3864-1:2011).

“These findings clearly show that many of our signs are not effective. If people cannot understand a road sign in seconds, it fails its purpose. Simplifying our traffic signs can reduce accidents, improve flow, and protect both motorists and pedestrians,” Delos Santos said.

Moreover, he urged DOTr to consider adopting comprehension-based testing as part of standard road sign development and even incorporate it into driver retraining programs during license renewal.

“This is a clear opportunity to modernize our traffic system. Let’s design signs that (actually) work for Filipino roads and Filipino commuters,” according to Delos Santos.

The lawmaker emphasized the economic impact of road disruptions, especially on farmers, traders, and haulers of essential goods, with the Marilao Bridge being a lifeline for Central Luzon.