After a week of heavy congestion, motorists traveling northbound on the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) can now expect smoother travel as all four lanes of the Marilao Northbound section reopen ahead of schedule.  

“We are pleased to announce that all four lanes of Marilao Northbound will be passable to vehicles beginning 1 AM on 26 March ahead of the projected schedule,” NLEX Corp. said in a statement on Wednesday.

The reopening comes after the Marilao Bridge sustained damage on 19 March due to a truck violating regulations, prompting emergency repairs that disrupted traffic. 

Originally set for a two-week completion, the repairs were fast-tracked, with teams working around the clock and materials delivered on an expedited schedule.  

While the lanes are now accessible, NLEX noted that supporting steel poles will remain in place to allow the bridge’s concrete to cure properly. 

“With this development, traffic flow in Marilao Northbound will now improve and normalize in the next few days,” the company assured.  

In a separate statement, the Department of Transportation commended NLEX for reopening all four lanes of the Marilao Northbound section a week ahead of schedule.  

“This will allow near-normal travel times, helping motorists and commuters reach their destinations faster,” it said.